University of San Carlos (USC) earned the distinction as “The Best New Team” in the recent Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition in Washington, D.C., USA.
This is the first time that the USC College of Law and Governance sent a moot court team to join the competition.
Dubbed as the “World Cup of Mooting,” the competition is organized by the International Law Students Association (ILSA).
The Cebu-based school had just joined the competition the previous year, but the USC team managed to best all participating law schools during the national finals last March 5-7.
As Team 675, USC reached the Octo-Finals last April 9, landing in the top 16 among the best 128 teams that advanced in the competition and participated in by more than 600 law schools from over 90 countries, disclosed lawyer Joan S. Largo, USC Law dean.
The USC Moot Team composed of Rashid Pandi, Vincent Joseph Cesista, Kay Beverly Go and Rheland Servacio also achieved 7th place in Memorials, besting 128 combined memorials in the international rounds.
For such an achievement in its rookie year, the organizers declared USC as “The Best New Team.”
“As an Octofinalist who ranked highly in the prelims, I have the honor of informing you that your team has won the award as Best New Team,” said Tariq Mohideen, Jessup Competition director, in a communiqué last April 16.
The Jessup Competition is a simulation of a fictional dispute between countries before the International Court of Justice, the judicial organ of the United Nations. Teams prepare oral and written pleadings arguing both the applicant and respondent positions of the case.
The teams first competed in qualifying competitions within the first quarter of this year. The winners, including the USC team, advanced to the White & Case International Rounds in Washington, D.C.
The competition included the submission last Jan. 14 of a Memorial, written pleadings of each team pursuant to these rules, with that of USC placing seventh among entries from 90 countries that tackled four major international issues.