Regional Moot Court Competition

Shaping Future Human Rights Defenders

The Moot Court Competition offers law students a unique opportunity to exercise and develop their analytical skills, produce written legal briefs, and plead cases before some of Europe’s most distinguished judges. This hands-on experience deepens their understanding of the rules and procedures of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), equipping them with the expertise to navigate real-world human rights cases.

At its core, the competition aims to improve knowledge of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) among students and judges in the Western Balkans through five stages.

1. Introduction workshop

It all starts with a preparatory phase, where 100 law students from 12 university teams participate in a one-day workshop. Led by legal experts, the workshop provides key insights into the hypothetical case, rules of procedures, written briefs, and the upcoming competition.

A hypothetical case is drafted by Civil Rights Defenders’ Legal Department, focusing on human rights issues relevant for the region. It is provided approximately two months before the oral stage of the competition.

2. Regional Moot Court Competition

12 teams compete, 10 of which are recurring participants, while two earn their spots through qualifying competitions (Futura and Albanian Moot Court). The teams analyse the human rights-focused hypothetical case, write briefs from both the applicant’s and the state’s perspective, and prepare for the oral stage of the competition. During the oral stage, held in an actual courtroom, teams present their cases before a distinguished panel that includes former ECtHR judges and judges from local courts.

The composition of panels has also contributed to capacity-building of Western Balkan judges, as they have an opportunity to learn from the ECtHR judges. Civil Rights Defenders has developed strong relations with judges from institutions in the region, both through the competition as well as other relevant projects, making the judge’s participation in the Moot Court Competition a certainty. The participating judges are coming from the most prominent judiciary institutions, such as the European Court of Human Rights, High Judicial Councils, Constitutional and Supreme Courts, Offices of the State Agent before the ECtHR, etc.

3. Futura Moot Court Competition

(currently inactive)

Futura Competition was introduced (a result of increased interest in the Regional Moot Court Competition) as a tool to qualify one team to the Regional Moot Court Competition for the following year—team 11 out of 12. Following a format similar to the main competition, six teams battle for a coveted spot in the finals.

4. Albanian Moot Court Competition

Albanian Moot Court Competition was introduced (a result of increased interest in the Regional Moot Court Competition) as a tool to qualify one team to the Regional Moot Court Competition for the following year—team 12 out of 12. Following a format similar to the main competition, six to eight teams battle for a coveted spot in the finals. The Albanian competition is organised by Civil Rights Defenders’ local office in Tirana, with local experts.

5. Trans-European Moot Court Finals in Strasbourg

The competition culminates in Strasbourg at the European Court of Human Rights, with the winning teams of the Regional Moot Court Competition and Nordic Moot Court Competition (not organised by Civil Rights Defenders) The Grand Finals are English-only oral pleadings with no written briefs. This prestigious finale, that celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 2023, brings together the brightest legal minds for an unforgettable experience.