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We have created this page to help the future generations of Jessup Competitors from Uzbekistan find answers to the most essential questions about the participation in the Competition. In addition, ILSA’s website contains a F.A.Q. section, which is also very recommended for reading.
Am I eligible to participate?
In Uzbekistan, students enrolled in law, international law or international relations courses may participate in the competition. LLM students are eligible to participate if they have not engaged in the practice of law in any jurisdiction after obtaining an undergraduate degree. Please read Official Rule 2.0 as supplemented at (link) for details on eligibility.
The eligibility requirements might be different in other jurisdictions. Therefore, if you are not from Uzbekistan, please make sure to consult the Official Rule 2.0 of the Competition, and the Rules Supplement of your country. You may find the Rules and the Supplements on the Jessup Competitors page.
How many teams may participate in the Competition from one university?
Only one. The choice of university representatives is entirely within its own discretion. However, the Official Rules do not prohibit a University to hold an internal competition among several teams, which would determine one team to represent the University in the National and (if successful) International Rounds. At the same time the Rules prohibit the case of thea ongoing Jessup season to be used for the internal competition purposes.
And again – if you are competing in Uzbekistan, make sure to check if your National Supplement otherwise provides.
How many students can form a team?
The team may be composed of two (2) to five (5) student members. As the amount of work required is overwhelming, it is recommended to have 4 or 5 members. Two students represent the Applicant and the other two students represent the Respondent. A fifth member usually functions as an “Of Counsel”/a researcher. However, it is up to you, how you assign the roles within the team.
We need a Coach/Team Advisor. Where can I find one?
First, try approaching your lecturers, and ask whether they might be interested in coaching your team. Ideally, you should approach people, who have solid knowledge of Public International Law. In case your school cannot provide you with a Team Advisor, or if your Team Advisor requires assistance, please contact the National Administrator via salim.yusupov@gmail.com. We try to find a Jessup alumnus in Tashkent, who might be interested in coaching you, or an Absentee Coach, who might help you via the Internet.
How to register a team for the Competition?
Along with registration at the ILSA’s website via online registration form (www.ilsa.org), a team should submit the names of its members and their employment/internship records for the past two years to National Administrator in one e-mail. The deadline for submission of this information coincides with the deadline for registration (usually mid-November). Please read Official Rule 3.0 as supplemented for details on registration rules and a fee waiver.
Are there any fees for participation in the Competition?
Yes, there are. Teams from Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan should pay a participation fee of $250, pursuant to Schedule IV of the Competition Fees. The teams which are not able to pay the fees, may submit a request for waiver. To get the waiver form, please contact the National Administrator via email: salim.yusupov@gmail.com.
What materials should I use for preparation?
For your basic reading on the general public international law we highly recommend the following books:
- Brownlie’s Principles of Public International Law 8thed. by James Crawford
- International Law 8th ed. by Malcom N. Shaw
- State Responsibility: General Partby James Crawford
- The Sources of International Law by Hugh Thirlway
For the improvment of advocacy skills, the recommened book is:
- Better Briefs and Oral Argument: Third Edition Winning on Appeal (NITA) 2017 ed. by Tessa L. Dysart
In regards to the preparation for the Competition, please visit our Materials page. There you will find a number of sources which will help you in your preparations.
What are the stages of the Competition?
The competition has a National (or Qualifying) and an International Tournaments. The teams should submit their written arguments (Memorials) by the indicated deadline and to present them during oral pleadings at the day of the National Rounds. Once the team wins the National Rounds, it will be qualified to represent Uzbekistan at the World Championship.
What is the deadline for Memorials?
Usually the deadline is in early January. The exact date will be announced in September. The deadline for Uzbekistan is different from the general deadline, and is indicated in the National Supplement. Please, visit the National Rounds 2020 page to learn more about the schedule and the rules for the upcoming season.
How to submit our Memorials?
Team must submit the Applicant and Respondent Memorials BOTH to the ILSA via its Team Homepage (available through www.ilsa.org), and to the National Administrator by email at salim.yusupov@gmail.com. The date of the submission will be published on the National Rounds 2020 page.
If I am late with Memorials submission, can I still take part in the Competition?
Yes. However, teams are penalized for the late submission of their memorials, in accordance with the Official Rule 6.0. And if the team fails to submit the memorials by the disqualification deadline, it will be disqualified from the Competition.
How many teams will represent Uzbekistan in the International Rounds?
According to Official Rule 1.2, every country is entitled to send one (1) team to the World Championship for every ten (10) teams participating in the National Championship. Uzbekistan has 5 eligible teams, and, consequently, only the National Champion is entitled to compete at the World Championship.
However, the Executive Director in consultation with the National Administrator can extend an invitation to other participating teams to attend the International Rounds as Exhibition Teams. If an extension is to take place, it will be announced after the end of the National Championship.
What is the exhibition team?
Exhibition team is part of educational programm of the Competition. It is a team, invited to participate in the International Rounds, but that is not eligible to win the Jessup Cup or the other awards associated with the International Rounds. If you are invited to the International Rounds as an exhibition team, you will have four (4) rounds to play against other exhibition teams, and at the same time you will serve as bailiffs in the other four (4) or five (5) rounds. Participation as an exhibition team will provide you with a very valuable experience. It will allow you to improve your oral advocacy skills, understand the nature and the spirit of the Jessup Competition, and perform better in the next season, if you decide to return.
Will the participation in the International Rounds be funded?
There is no guaranteed funding available. However, every year we are doing our best to ensure, that the National Champion will receive some coverage of the travel expenses. We were quite successful in finding funds in the previous two years, however there is no guarantee that the situation will remain the same in the future. If you are to win the National Championship, the National Administrator will work closely with the administration of your University and the donors in order to secure the funding. In case if there is no funding available, you will be required cover the travel expenses yourself.