Deakin Law School (DLS) hosts Australia-wide law schools at its annual arbitration showcase challenge.

Deakin Law School (DLS) is ready to defend its winner’s title at the 2019 Alfred Deakin International Commercial (ICA) Arbitration Moot to be held on 4-5 September at Deakin’s Melbourne CBD campus Deakin Downtown.

Last year, DLS trumped law school teams from the University of Melbourne, Monash University and Australian Catholic University (ACU) to claim top spot in the competition that’s focused on international commercial law and arbitration.

Hosted by DLS for the third consecutive year, and sponsored by Allens, the Alfred Deakin ICA Moot invites undergraduate and Juris Doctor law students from Australia-wide law schools to showcase their arbitration skills for prestige and a $1000 prize.  In addition, best oralist in the grand final will receive a place in the Chartered Institute of Arbitrator’s 2020 course, “Introduction to International Arbitration”.

Arbitration is a key skill for today’s law student as it’s the business community’s preference for resolving international commercial disputes and there’s high demand for accomplished legal practitioners in this field. 

This year, the Alfred Deakin ICA Moot has already attracted 20 teams representing 13 law schools from around Australia, including Bond, Murdoch, Sydney, Macquarie, University of Tasmania, and University of Queensland. Victorian competitors include RMIT, LaTrobe, Victoria University, ACU, Melbourne, Monash and Deakin.  

The university law teams will be seeking resolution to a fictitious problem in a simulated courtroom setting with rounds over two days leading up to the grand final on Thursday 5 September.

The event’s keynote address will be delivered by Professor Christopher Kee, Director of the Vis Moot in Vienna. He will also be a part of the judging panel, along with Caroline Kenny QC, President of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and Duncan Allen, Partner at Allens

Joining Prof. Kee on grand final judging panel will be joined Caroline Kenney QC (President of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a member of the DLS Advisory Committee) and Duncan Travis (partner at Allens, member of the DLS Advisory Committee, Deakin alumnus and Vis Moot alumnus).

Deakin Clinical Solicitor Rebecca Tisdale says the Deakin ICA International Moot provides Australia-wide law students with highly-valuable law experience.

‘It’s a unique opportunity for law students across Australia to engage with each other, the profession, and hone their knowledge and skills in international arbitration.’