UVic Law Team Takes On The World

Four UVic Law students are on their way to Washington, DC to test their legal skills against top law students from around the globe. Mike Baker, Miriam Isman, Laura Weston-Baradoy and Mark Witten will be in the American capital from March 20-26 to represent Canada at the 52nd annual Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot competition.
       The prestigious Jessup Moot is the largest competition of its kind, involving over 500 law schools in 80 countries. Students will present written and oral arguments on specific points of law from the position of both applicant and respondent in the case.
       The UVic Law team performed exceptionally well at the March 2-5 national championships in Calgary, finishing just behind the University of Ottawa. They dealt with the legality of drone aircraft strikes (laws of war/international humanitarian law), a prohibition on the wearing of a religious headdress (equality rights and religious freedom) and issues of bribery/corruption.
       In Calgary, the UVic Law team won several national individual and team prizes. The team was coached by law professors Ted McDorman and Andrew Newcombe, with the assistance of UVic Law alumnus Gordon Brandt.
        The Faculty of Law’s mooting program provides students with intensive training in advocacy, client counselling and dispute resolution skills before judges, practitioners and academics.

—30—