This year, the Telders International Law Moot Court Team of the University of Graz was able to participate in the 7th International Friendly Rounds in Seville for the first time!
As part of the ‘Telders Moot Court Competition’, students are given the opportunity to gain an insight into the practice of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague and to take part in a simulated ICJ court hearing based on a fictitious case.
After successfully submitting the memorials, this year's Telders team from the University of Graz (KFU) was allowed to participate in the 7th International Friendly Rounds from 9 to 11 May 2024 at the University of Seville. The International Friendly Rounds offer all teams that do not have to take part in national preliminary rounds the opportunity to demonstrate their argumentation and presentation skills on an international stage before the final in The Hague.
After an introductory opening ceremony, four practice pleadings were held in front of renowned international law experts as judges. Through their spontaneous and challenging questions, the individual teams were able to present their argumentation skills and gain important experience for the final.
In addition to these negotiation rounds, the teams were given the opportunity to expand their knowledge of international law in a seminar entitled ‘The International Community Testing the Tenets of Public International Law: Kosovo, Ukraine, Palestine, and Beyond’. During the seminar, lawyer and arbitrator Luis Gonzalez Garcia introduced the Telders teams to the challenges associated with the topic of the annexation ban. G. Matteo Voccaro-Incisa, Ph.D., LL.M. of the University of Lincoln presented to the participants the differences and similarities in the electoral behaviour of the United Nations between Crimea in 2014 and Ukraine in 2022. The seminar was concluded by Boshko Stankovski, MPhil, who spoke about the right to self-determination.
A gala was held on the eve of the final round. This provided participating teams with an opportunity to become acquainted with the judges and other teams, as well as to establish important contacts. In a convivial atmosphere, the best judges were honoured, and the two finalist teams were announced.
Following the eagerly awaited final of the Friendly International Rounds, the award ceremony took place. The Institute of International Law and International Relations is delighted to announce that the team from the University of Graz achieved 3rd place overall in the team ranking. In addition, Natascha Gojkovic was honoured with the ‘Best Oralist’ award and Sophie Lutzmayr with the ‘3rd Best Oralist’ award.
The Institute of International Law and International Relations would like to take this opportunity to thank the University of Seville for organising and holding the International Friendly Rounds, as well as UNICUM and Ashurst for their financial and organisational support. Special thanks go to G. Matteo Vaccaro-Incisa, Ph.D., LL.M. of the University of Lincoln and Prof. Eulalia Petit de Gabriel of the University of Seville, who were mainly responsible for holding and organising the International Friendly Rounds.
Since October 2023, this year's Telders Moot Court team has been preparing for the final oral rounds in The Hague. After successfully drafting and submitting the memorials, the team's focus is now on preparing for the final rounds in The Hague from 29 May to 1 June 2024. The Graz team is coached by Prof. Dr Erika de Wet, LL.M (Harvard), Anna-Lena Hörzer, BA and Christina Seewald.