For the 2024 Official Rules, please click here.
notice of no CHANGES made in 2024
Please note that no rule changes were made in 2024. Please read the next paragraph, which refers to the changes adopted in 2023.
CHANGES made in 2023 relevant for 2024
We want to bring to your attention some relevant changes to the Competition rules during 2023. These changes are based on feedback from teams, judges, and coaches, as well as at the discretion of the Technical Committee to improve the Competition experience in a more fairly and enjoyable way for all participants. Please note some of the changes below:
8.1 NUMBER OF MEMORIALS
Memorials have been and will continue to be an essential part of the learning process of the Competition for all teams. New rule read as follows:
Rule 8.1: “Each Team will prepare one (1) legal brief representing either the VICTIMS/PETITIONERS/COMMISSION or the STATE as assigned upon registration. Teams will not prepare a Memorial for both sides. Teams that do not present a memorial will not be able to participate in the oral argument sessions.”
9.4; 11.3 & 11.3.1 REGARDING SCORING PRELIMINARY ROUNDS AND SEMI-FINALS
The scores obtained in the oral argument sessions will be averaged to make up 100% of each team's score. The score obtained for the written Memorial will be considered separately, and the score for the rounds will not be averaged with that of the Memorial. The rules are read as follows:
Rule 9.4: “The Semi-Final Round of Competition shall consist of the top 20% of the Teams representing the VICTIMS and/or PETITIONERS and/or COMMISSION and the top 20% of the Teams representing the STATE. These rankings will be determined by the scores of the Preliminary Round sessions”
Rule 11.3: “The scores of the Oral Argument Sessions will be used to determine each Participant Team’s score in the Preliminary Round. In the event that a Participant Team argues in more than two (2) Preliminary Round Oral Argument Sessions, all three (3) oral scores shall be averaged (Rule 9.3.3)”.
Rule 11.3.1: “In the Preliminary Round, the scores obtained in the oral argument sessions will be averaged to make up 100% of each team's score. The score obtained for the written Memorial will be considered separately, and the score for the rounds will not be averaged with that of the Memorial"
Any doubt regarding this change and its application to the Competition should be directed to the following email: iamoot@wcl.american.edu