LAWASIA Moot
The LAWASIA International Moot Competition ("LAWASIA Moot") is an annual international moot court competition that is organised by LAWASIA, an international organisation mainly comprising bar associations, lawyers, judges, and academics. The moot problem ranges from international human rights to international commercial arbitration, and the venue of the competition rotates between LAWASIA member states as it is usually held in conjunction with the annual LAWASIA Conference. Around 30 to 40 law schools from around the world take part in the moot each year; Malaysia is the only member state that conducts national rounds, of which the top two team teams — each university can send multiple teams — are selected for the international rounds. In the international rounds, teams would compete in up to ten rounds if they reach the championship final, which is usually judged by notable judges and practitioners.
| Established | 2005 |
|---|---|
| Venue | Varies |
| Subject matter | International commercial arbitration |
| Class | Regional |
| Record participation | 40 teams (2011) |
| Qualification | National rounds |
| Most championships | Singapore Management University School of Law (5) |
| Website | http://lawasiamoot.org |
The first edition of the moot was in 2005 and took place in Gold Coast, Australia. No moot took place in 2006 but the competition resumed in 2007 without any break in editions thereafter, before the 2019 riots in Hong Kong saw the withdrawal of many teams from the 14th edition. For the 2020 edition, while originally designated to be held in Mongolia, the international rounds were held online via Zoom due to travel restrictions brought about by Covid-19.
For countries, Singapore and Malaysia share the best track record with five wins apiece, while Singapore has reached the most finals with 11. For universities, Singapore Management University, which made its debut in 2009 and missed the 2010 and 2019 editions, has the best track record in this competition with five championships, three runners-up titles, four Best Oralist titles, and three Best Memorials titles. It also holds the record for the most number of final appearances (eight) and consecutive championship final appearances (five).
Competition records
| Year | Venue | Total number of teams | Champion (win number) | Runner-up (win number) | Best Oralist (win number) | Best Memorials (win number) | Spirit of LAWASIA (win number) | Best Endeavour (win number) | International debut |
| 2020[1] | Mongolia (online) | 17 | Singapore Management University (5) | National University of Singapore (3) | Singapore Management University (4) | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| 2019[2] | Hong Kong | 9 | University of Malaya (2) | National University of Singapore (2) | Advance Tertiary College of Malaysia (3) | Singapore Management University (3) | National University of Singapore (1) | CTBC Business School (1) | * CTBC Business School * Hong Kong Shue Yan University |
| 2018 | Siem Reap | 31 | University of Malaya (1) | National University of Singapore (1) | National University of Singapore (1) | Universiti Teknologi MARA (1) | University of Kent (1) | Kobe University (3) | NA |
| 2017[3][4] | Tokyo | 37 | Singapore Management University (4) | Universiti Teknologi MARA (1) | Universiti Teknologi MARA (1) | Singapore Management University (2) | Sophia University (1) | Kobe University (2) | * Sophia University |
| 2016 | Colombo | 28 | Singapore Management University (3) | National University of Juridical Sciences (1) | Chulalongkorn University (1) | Singapore Management University (1) | Horizon Campus (1) | Chulalongkorn University (1) | * General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University * Horizon Campus * University College Lahore * University of Peradeniya |
| 2015 | Sydney | 37 | Advance Tertiary College of Malaysia (3) | National Law University, Jodhpur (1) | Singapore Management University (3) | Advance Tertiary College of Malaysia (2) | Universiti Teknologi MARA (1) | Kyoto University (1) | * Chulalongkorn University * National University of Juridical Sciences * Shanghai University of Political Science and Law * University of Kent |
| 2014[5][6] | Bangkok | 33 | Singapore Management University (2) | Chinese University of Hong Kong (1) | Singapore Management University (2) | INTI International University (1) | Monash University (1) | Hidayatullah National Law University (1) | * INTI International University * Kyoto University * Monash University |
| 2013[7] | Singapore | 23 | Singapore Management University (1) | Taylor's University (2) | Singapore Management University (1) | Loyola Law School (1) | Singapore Management University (1) | Ho Chi Minh City University of Law (2) | NA |
| 2012[8][9] | Bali | 37 | Chinese University of Hong Kong (1) | Singapore Management University (3) | Loyola Law School (1) | Chinese University of Hong Kong (2)/Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (2) | Ho Chi Minh City University of Law (3) | Tsinghua University (1) | NA |
| 2011[10] | Seoul | 40 | Advance Tertiary College of Malaysia (2) | Singapore Management University (2) | Advance Tertiary College of Malaysia (2) | Chinese University of Hong Kong (1) | Pusan National University (1) | Kobe University (1) | * Chung-Ang University * Hanyang University * Kobe University * National Law University, Jodhpur * San Beda College of Law |
| 2010[11] | New Delhi | 26 | National Law University, Delhi (1) | Advance Tertiary College (1) | Advance Tertiary College of Malaysia (1) | BPP Law School (1) | Ho Chi Minh City University of Law (2) | Kathmandu Law School (1) | * BPP Law School * Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law |
| 2009[12] | Ho Chi Minh City | 30 | Advance Teritiary College (1) | Singapore Management University (1) | University of Queensland (1) | Advance Tertiary College (1) | Ho Chi Minh City University of Law (1) | Ho Chi Minh City University of Law (1) | * Advance Tertiary College * Chinese University of Hong Kong * City University of Hong Kong * Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam * Edith Cowan University * Handong International Law School * Ho Chi Minh City University of Law * Pusan National University * Singapore Management University * University of the Philippines Diliman * University of Queensland |
| 2008[12] | Kuala Lumpur | 9 | University of Hong Kong (3) | University of the Philippines (1) | University of the Philippines (1) | Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (1) | University of the Philippines (1) | National Law School of India University (1) | * Loyola Law School * National Law University, Delhi * National University of Singapore * Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia * University of the Philippines |
| 2007[12] | Hong Kong | 11 | University of Hong Kong (2) | Taylor's University (1) | University of Hong Kong (1) | NA | NA | NA | * Ateneo Law School * Kathmandu Law School * Konkuk University * Moscow State University * National Law School of India University * Taylor's University * Tsinghua University * University of Jammu * Universiti Teknologi MARA |
| 2006 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| 2005[12] | Gold Coast | 7 | University of Hong Kong (1) | University of Western Australia (1) | NA | NA | NA | NA | * Hidayatullah National Law University * Huazhong University of Science and Technology * International Islamic University of Malaysia * Sri Lanka National Law College * University of Hong Kong * University of Malaya * University of Western Australia |
References
- http://www.boasecohencollins.com/en/news/748-moot-showcases-emerging-legal-talent
- https://lawgazette.com.sg/practice/the-young-lawyer/lawasia-conference-2019-harmonisation-through-synergy/
- http://www.ciarb.org.sg/smu-champion-10th-frankfurt-investment-arbitration-moot-ian-fletcher-international-insolvency-law-moot/
- https://lawgazette.com.sg/news/events/another-season-record-breaking-international-moot-court-achievements-smu/
- http://lawasiamoot.org/past.aspx
- "Win in Asia moot contest makes it 10 international titles for SMU law school". 7 October 2014.
- http://lawasiamoot.org/internationalrounds2013.aspx
- http://lawasiamoot.org/international2012.aspx
- http://www.hk-lawyer.org/content/cuhk-law-students-win-law-asia-international-law-moot
- http://lawasiamoot.org/international2011.aspx
- http://lawasiamoot.org/international2010.aspx
- http://lawasiamoot.org/past.aspx