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What is it about?
A moot court is a simulation of a judicial trial, generally organized by law faculties or major law firms to train students and trainees in forensic skills. Participants engage in trials based on a fictional case, preparing both written and oral arguments.

Why?
Experience has shown that many trainees struggle with developing procedural skills and oral advocacy during trials, often due to a lack of practical opportunities. These skills go beyond knowledge of the law, requiring creativity, strategy, quick thinking, and the ability to persuade the judge. This moot court, designed for Italian-speaking master’s students and trainees, offers participants the chance to practice preparing and conducting a trial, including oral phases, fostering creativity and freedom of action.
The competition also aims to encourage networking among future colleagues, lawyers, and judges.

The Organizers
The Moot Court project of Italian-speaking Switzerland is the result of discussions among the organizers, drawing on their experiences as trainee supervisors, lawyers, and trainees. Convinced that future lawyers must acquire concrete forensic skills, they aim to provide an open platform for trainees to freely practice procedural techniques.

• Michele Micheli
• Raffaele De Vecchi
• Matteo Simona

Who can participate?

• Trainees registered with the bar associations of Canton Ticino or Canton Grisons.
• Students enrolled in a Master’s program in Law at a Swiss university.
• Italian-speaking trainees registered with the bar associations of other cantons, provided they completed pre-university education in Canton Ticino or Canton Grisons.

Teams must consist of 2 to 3 members, with at least one registered in a cantonal trainees’ bar association. The number of participating teams is limited.

How does it work?
Before registration closes, the case will be published on the dedicated website, complete with attachments. Teams are divided into plaintiff and defendant sides.
Phase 1: Plaintiffs submit a written brief (petition) by a specified deadline. The top two briefs are randomly assigned to defendant teams, who submit their written responses by a set deadline.
Phase 2: The best two responses are selected. The top four teams (two plaintiffs and two defendants) proceed to the finals, participating in a full oral phase, including oral replies, counter-replies, and final pleadings. Winners are declared at the end of the day, and prizes are awarded in the evening.

Written submissions and oral phases are judged by a panel of lawyers, judges, and professors. The competition rules are downloadable .

Prizes

• 1st place: CHF 3,000
• 2nd place: CHF 1,500
• 3rd place: CHF 750
• Best non-finalist brief: CHF 600
• Best oral pleading: CHF 600

Registration
Register by December 23, 2024, by downloading the form , completing it, and sending it via email to moot.court@nist-law.ch or by mail to:

Moot Court of Italian-Speaking Switzerland
c/o Nievergelt & Stoehr SA
Via Pretorio 13
6900 Lugano
081 851 09 10
moot.court@nist-law.ch

The registration fee is CHF 30 per participant and must be paid or submitted to the organizer before the registration deadline.

For more information, visit: