Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition
Established in 1959, the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition is the world's largest and most prestigious moot court competition, attracting teams from over 500 law schools in more than 80 countries. The competition involves the simulation of a fictional dispute between countries before the International Court of Justice, the judicial organ of the United Nations. The Australian National Rounds are held in January/February each year with the winner and runner-up travelling to Washington DC for the week-long international rounds in March/April. This is Australia’s most prestigious moot, attracting the best and brightest of Bond’s law students. Bond teams have won the national round three times, making it to the international championship semi-finals twice and the octo-finals twice. Our teams regularly place in the top 3 nationally, and have won several awards nationally and internationally for written memorials. Whilst it involves a huge amount of work, Jessup alumni will tell you it is definitely worth the effort!
Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot
Billed as ‘the Olympics of International Trade Law’, the Vis Arbitral Moot is based on cases related to international sales transactions subject to the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods. Judges are practicing arbitrators and academics from different jurisdictions. There are two different moots in the Vis competition: one held in Vienna and another (the Vis East) held in Hong Kong. Bond has competed regularly in Hong Kong, and more recently in Vienna.
The Wilson Moot
Conceived in honour of Canada's first woman Supreme Court Justice, Bertha Wilson, The Wilson Moot explores legal issues facing the disadvantaged and disempowered in the Canadian legal system. It centres on the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Recent moot topics have included access to funded medical services for transpersons, the impacts of 'carding' practices on racialized communities, the effects of restrictive bail conditions on individuals with alcohol use disorder, and the implication of post-covid-return-to-work policies on those with mental disabilities.
Sports Arbitration Moot
The Sports Arbitration moot offers students the opportunity to gain advocacy skills in the field of sports arbitration. This international competition involves teams from law schools across the globe, including both civil law and common law jurisdictions. Participating students are also given the opportunity of attending 'SAM Camp' - a week-long training program featuring some of the top practitioners int he field. The moot is hosted by partners: Swiss Arbitration Academy, Université de Neuchâtal Faculté de Droit, and Fifa. Past finals host locations include Zurich and Madrid.
International Criminal Court Moot Court Competition
The ICC Moot was instituted in 2005 by Pace University School of Law in New York City. In this moot, teams prepare and argue a case based on international criminal law before a (simulated) ICC panel of judges. Each team is required to argue from three perspectives - as the prosecution, defense and victim's advocate. Teams travel to The Hague for the semi-finals and finals competition which brings together the top law students from 20 universities worldwide. The competition is undertaken in hybrid form, with preliminary rounds held virtually, and the final rounds held in person.
Sir Harry Gibbs National Constitutional Law Moot
The Sir Harry Gibbs National Constitutional Law Moot is one of Australia’s leading moot competitions. Held in October each year, it is organised by the University of Melbourne Law Students' Society and supported by the Australian Association of Constitutional Law. Bond regularly places as semi-finalists and quarter-finalists in this moot, and has also taken out Best Oralist honours.
Michael Kirby Contract Law Moot
Hosted by Victoria University, this national moot competition is one of the largest in Australia, and is the only one centring on contract law. Each team is required to prepare detailed written submission and argue for both Claimant and Respondent in the dispute. Bond teams have won this moot twice, and finished second four times.
Alfred Deakin International Commercial Arbitration Moot
Hosted by Deakin Law School, this moot competition involves teams from across Australia and overseas. It centres on the field of international commercial arbitration and typically requires students to address both issues of procedure in international commercial arbitration, as well as the merits of the dispute in issue. Students participating in this moot often go on to participate in the Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot.
Administrative Appeals Tribunal National Moot Competition
This national competition involves scenarios drawn from a variety of administrative law areas including immigration and citizenship, social security, taxation, veterans’ affairs and workers’ competition. Eight teams are selected from a series of state/territory rounds to compete in the national finals in Sydney which are adjudicated by the President and two other members of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. Bond teams have won the national finals twice, and twice placed second.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Moot
This Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Moot provides Indigenous students the opportunity to develop their oral and written advocacy skills, in competition with teams from other Queensland law schools. The moot problem usually centres on a commercial law issue with a particularly indigenous focus. The Moot is supported by the Indigenous Lawyers Association of Queensland and provides participating students with practical training sessions in advance of the moot. In past years, the competition has been held at the Supreme Court and the Federal Court in Brisbane.
Law Students’ Association Competitions
Each year the Queensland Law Students’ Association and the Australian Law Students’ Association run a series of competitions in conjunction with their annual conference – among these is a mooting competition. Applications for positions on these moot teams are managed by the Bond Law Students’ Association.