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Congratulations to Schulich Law’s Philip C. Jessup International Law moot team who were named this year’s national champions. The winning team of Nicole Arski, Brent Campagnola, Julia Hiltz and Taline Selman represented Schulich Law on February 23-25 in Winnipeg, Manitoba and were coached by Professor Rob Currie and Sarah MacLeod, Dal Jessup alum and associate at Burchell Wickwire Bryson.

The team’s hard work and dedication earned them First Place in the competition (National Champions), First Place Memorials (Written Submissions), First Place Applicant Memorial (Nicole Arski and Julia Hiltz), and Third Ranked Oralist Nationally (Julia Hiltz).

On their path to victory, they defeated 17 other law schools, including a resounding victory over the University of Toronto in the final. They will now proceed to the International Rounds in Washington, DC on April 8-15, where teams from nearly 100 countries will be competing. It is the first time Schulich Law will be represented at the world rounds since 2008 and the first time the law school has won the national championship since 2000.

“The Jessup is sometimes called ‘The Monarch of Moots’ because it has the largest international reach, and represents a tremendously difficult challenge for the students,” says Prof. Currie. “They are faced with a hypothetical international law dispute between two fictitious states, though with issues that are ‘ripped from the headlines’ (this year’s problem featured an armed conflict and related sanctions). They spend the first four months of the school year researching and writing their written submissions, then many hours practicing for the oral rounds. The quality of advocacy at the competition is extremely high and to win the national rounds is a great achievement. I could not be more proud of them.”

On March 24, the team held a moot practice round at the Weldon Law Building where friends, family, classmates and faculty attended to wish them well as they prepared to represent Dalhousie and Canada. Their guest bench of judges was comprised of: Sarah Douglas, Associate at McInnes Cooper and Schulich Law Jessup team member 2020; Professor Olabisi Akinkugbe, Viscount Bennett Professor of Law; and Professor Phillip Saunders, Dalhousie Law School Jessup team 1984 (World Champions) and individual winner of Best Oralist award.

The team is grateful to the many practice judges who helped them get ready for the competition, including their friends in the Dalhousie University Legal Counsel office, Stewart McKelvey, Burchell Wickwire Bryson, McInnes Cooper and the Halifax office of the Judge Advocate General. They would also like to give a special thanks to Professors Saunders, Dunn, Lantz, Seck and Martin, as well as to Professor Anthony Daimsis of the University of Ottawa who provided specialized advocacy training in the lead up to the International Rounds. Due to the timing of the Washington trip, a number of the students’ academic obligations had to be re-arranged and great assistance was provided in this regard by Associate Dean Lucie Guibault, Danielle Hill, and by those professors whose courses were involved.

The Washington trip also represents a significant expense for the law school. Local law firms Burchell Wickwire Bryson, Pink Larkin (at which team member Julia Hiltz will be articling in 2023-24) and Stewart McKelvey have generously made donations to support the team’s travel costs.

"I also want to single out Sarah MacLeod whom we were fortunate enough to have on board as Deputy Coach this year," says Prof. Currie. "She put a massive amount of time into helping the team – on top of her busy practice at Burchell Wickwire Bryson – and played a central role in their success.

The Schulich Law Jessup Moot Team is now looking ahead to the next stage of the competition.

“It’s a privilege to represent Dalhousie, and Canada at the international rounds as National Champions,” shares the Schulich Law Jessup Moot Team. “The Philip C. Jessup moot has undoubtably been the highlight of our law school experience because of our excellent team dynamic and the invaluable support and expertise of our outstanding coaches and practice judges. We look forward to the next steps of this once in a lifetime experience and hope to make our supporters proud.”

Schulich Law wishes the National Champions the best of luck as they prepare to represent the law school on the international stage!