Experience Report 2024/2025

By Paula Fürstenberg

To experience something completely different during your studies. To stand before a bench of judges and hold your own with the knowledge you’ve gathered over months. To work out a case down to the last detail, venture into the depths of international law, celebrate both small and big successes, and occasionally battle doubts. “Best experience of my time in college”—hyperbole, or is there a good deal of truth to it?

For me, the “Jessup mind game” began on my very first day of college, when the concept of a moot court was introduced during orientation week. Back then, it was hard to imagine standing before renowned legal practitioners and professors and being grilled with questions without losing my composure. Throughout my studies, I always toyed with the idea, but had doubts about my suitability. As the fourth semester drew to a close, however, I took the plunge and applied. What’s the worst that could happen?

After submitting my application and going through a detailed interview, I initially received a rejection. Of course, I was disappointed, but even the application process teaches important lessons about Jessup: In the end, nothing goes exactly as planned, and you have to be prepared for anything at all times.

A few months later, I received an email saying that someone had withdrawn and I could step in. I was then thrown right into the thick of things, as the case had already been published. At the same time, I got to know the team, the basics of Jessup and international law, and the intricacies of the 20-page case, while the rest of the team had already spent the entire summer preparing for it.

Teamwork is a defining feature of the Jessup experience. Day in and day out, we work and struggle together. During an orientation weekend, we were introduced to the wide range of public speaking exercises that awaited us, cooked together, and ended the evening with a few rounds of card games. Finally, we drafted the team agreement, in which we outlined our expectations regarding our working methods and time commitment. While it is possible to attend lectures and seminars during the Jessup period, I would largely advise against it. Almost all of us were simultaneously putting a relatively significant amount of effort into our regular studies, so we couldn’t give both the attention they deserved. The Jessup requires about 35–40 hours per week of active, focused work, which should not be underestimated.

After the weekend, the research work began. We were assigned our respective topics, and each week we had to submit and discuss our findings, as well as attend a public speaking session. We quickly acquired a broad range of knowledge, spanning from general international law—such as treaty law and customary law—to detailed information on ministerial immunities and coastal baselines. Every week we learned something new about public speaking; from walking to the lectern, maintaining eye contact when answering questions, and projecting our voices correctly, we were gradually taught all the key aspects of successfully presenting our arguments. In November, we also began drafting our briefs, so from then on we “got to” grapple with citation style and the precise structuring of our content.

Of course, amidst all the hard work, there was always time and enthusiasm for shared (often too-long) lunches, movie nights, a Christmas party, and events like Drink and Paint. Another highlight was the trip to The Hague, which not only brought us even closer together as a team but also provided interesting insights into the institutions of international law. We visited the ICJ, a hearing at the ICC, and the German Embassy, but also had plenty of time for a museum visit and a stroll through the city.

Things started to get more serious as the deadline for submitting our briefs approached: the “Beamer Days” were just around the corner. For three days, the three of us pored over what we’d written, editing the texts down to the very last word and making final cuts. Although the days were exhausting, homemade baked goods from our coaches and an endless supply of coffee brightened our days. The joy after submission was all the greater, and we celebrated with a cocktail party.

But we couldn’t rest for long, as mock pleadings at the law firms were coming up soon and the Nationals were drawing ever closer. Two to three times a week, we rehearsed our presentations externally or internally and studied every conceivable question. At the same time, we revised our arguments and adapted them for the oral presentation.

In February, the time had finally come, and the Nationals in Leipzig were just around the corner. We arrived a day early so we could take our time exploring the city. But by the time the welcome party rolled around that evening, there was no more peace and quiet to be found. We received our opponents’ briefs and had to brace ourselves for the first rounds. That kind of nervousness is truly unique. After a day filled with new impressions, you sit on the floor of a hotel room and read the other teams’ arguments for the first time, knowing that tomorrow you have to demonstrate everything you’ve been working toward all semester.

Although (or perhaps precisely because) we were up against incredibly strong opponents, we gave it our all and earned praise from the judges. It was a shame that it wasn’t enough to advance in the end. On the one hand, a weight was lifted off our shoulders; on the other hand, we would of course have loved to continue presenting our arguments. Now, however, we were able to relax and enjoy the remaining days in Leipzig, cheer on the teams during the final rounds at the Federal Administrative Court, and celebrate the conclusion of the Nationals together with all the teams.

The Jessup is a truly unique experience that offers a whole new perspective on legal education and the legal profession. You’re pushed to your limits and faced with challenges—but you learn how to handle them. You broaden your horizons during your studies and get the chance to think outside the box. You develop essential skills—not just for the legal field, but for life in general.

Most important, however, is the team spirit. You grow together as a team and share this experience through its ups and downs. Especially during the Nationals, tensions run high, and it is precisely in such moments that a few encouraging words are indispensable.

To sum up the answer to the question: The Jessup may have been one of the most challenging parts of my studies, but it was certainly also one of the best.