Calling All Law Students and Experts: Courts of Space Launches its Moot Court Competition
The competition will use a legal scenario centred on a commercial space dispute
For the second consecutive year, DIFC Courts will be holding their annual Court Competition in May 2024, with a first of its kind format.
Moot courts are a well-known simulated court experience in the legal educational sphere, where aspiring lawyers argue hypothetical cases. These experiences involve teams of students presenting arguments before a panel of judges, with cases based on real or potential legal issues with fictional facts in order to recreate life-like conditions. The objective? Helping students develop their advocacy and legal reasoning skills by requiring them to research, analyse, and present arguments on both sides of a case.
Because moot courts provide valuable practical experience for students preparing for careers in law, Dubai International Financial Centre’s (DIFC) Courts’ Courts of Space has partnered with Middlesex University Dubai, Webnyay, and the Middle East Space Monitor as the competition’s media partner to create its very own moot court competition.
In alignment with DIFC Courts’ objective to make the UAE play a leading role in the space legal scene, but also Dubai Future Foundation’s broader mission to build the skills and capacities of future leaders in the government and private sector, this competition is a key component of the ecosystem of future-facing initiatives. By empowering Arab youth with these type of competitions, Courts of Space sets the stage for a new wave of solicitors, barristers, and multilateral law experts, enabling them to prepare for problems that will impact their generation and spearhead the development of the nation.
Structure
The competition consists two (2) days with preliminary rounds, quarter-final rounds, semi-final rounds and a final round. It involves a written submission and an oral advocacy round.
Participation and Eligibility
Any educational institution providing a degree, graduate, or postgraduate training in law or a field relevant to international law may participate in the competition.
Each institution may submit a maximum of two teams to the competition.
All teams shall be composed of a minimum of two (2) and a maximum of four (4) students who are enrolled in a programme of law (Bachelor or Master) at the participating universities.
Moot Problem
The competition will address a fictional legal scenario involving SolarDream, a Canadian space tourism company operating in Dubai (UAE) offering space retreats with activities such as space yoga. Artemis Astrotheia, a yoga YouTuber and SolarDream customer, is suing the company for a $10 million refund plus $5 million in damages, after falling ill with a Covid-19 variant and not taking part of the on-orbit wellness program. Artemis's trip, along with her fellow passengers, is cut short to four days instead of the planned ten due to the virus. Although Artemis did not disclose headaches before the trip on SolarDream's medical forms, she later admits to them in a YouTube video after the trip, prompting SolarDream to countersue for breach of contract.
Judging Rounds
Each team’s written submissions will be awarded a score out of a maximum of 100 points per team, along with a score out of 100 for each member’s oral argument. Teams will be evaluated on both theoretical (analysis, structure, use of legal principles, authorities and citations) and practical (persuasiveness, reasoning, presentation and creativity).
Dates
The competition will be held on 7 May 2024 from 12pm to 6pm Gulf Standard Time (GST); 8 May 2024 from 12pm to 6pm GST; 9 May 2024 from 12pm to 6pm GST; and 21 May 2024 from 12pm to 8pm GST. Participants can register here for the competition.