Structure of the Moot
The European Law Moot Court (ELMC) is an international and highly renowned competition, in which students from about 100 universities worldwide participate every year. In a simulated trial before the European Court of Justice, the participants work in teams on a fictitious case from the area of European law. The finals take place at the Court of Justice in Luxembourg before its judges and advocates general. The competition is held in English and French. The attendance fees and travel expenses are covered by the chair. According to section 22 subsection 2 sentence 1 number 5 of the Act on Lawyer Training and Examination of the Land of Baden-Württemberg (JAPrO), participants may apply for not counting the semester in which they participate in the ELMC towards the total number of semesters in their program of study.
Why participate?
Participation in the ELMC offers students the opportunity to gain their first work experience as lawyers as well as valuable insights into how the law is applied. By preparing written pleadings and presenting oral arguments, the participants are able to gain in-depth knowledge of European law (that is relevant for their examination) and improve their legal English and French at the same time. Moreover, they learn to speak in a foreign language in front of a jury of experts in a professional and convincing manner and to handle queries with confidence. These are skills you need to become a good lawyer and which will help you to successfully pass the oral examination that is part of the state examination.
By attending the mock trials, the Regional Finals and, potentially, the All European Final, the participants get the chance to make important contacts with employees of the European institutions, judges, attorneys, and law students from all over the world, in line with the competition’s motto: „moot, meet, and compete.“
Participation in the ELMC demands a high level of commitment and passion from all students. At the same time, the ELMC is an unforgettable experience that adds valuable work experience to your resume and is also a lot of fun.
The competition is divided into an oral phase scheduled for September to November and a written phase that starts in January and ends in March or April.