In March, the regional round for the Americas was hosted virtually from the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University in White Plains, New York, with Miami Law competing against over a dozen U.S. and Canadian law schools. From there, only the highest-scoring schools proceeded to the competition’s international final rounds at the International Criminal Court’s seat in the Hague, the Netherlands.
Miami Law’s team, David Scollan, rising 3L, Nicoletta Pappas, rising 3L, and Jordan Bayley Williams, J.D. ’22, was among the select few in the Americas to advance, finishing second – alongside other top law schools, such as Georgetown, Emory, and William & Mary.
Throughout May, each team oralist argued twice in the competition’s international rounds hosted virtually from the Hague. The team advanced to the quarterfinals and were awarded the following accolades:
- Winner, Best Regional Team for the Americas
- Winner, Best Defense Counsel – David Scollan
- Winner, IBA Award for Best Oralist of the Preliminary Rounds – David Scollan
- Winner, Best Defense Counsel Team
- First Runner-up, Best Defense Counsel Memorial
- First Runner-up, Best Victims Counsel Team
- Second Runner-up, Best Victims Counsel – Nicoletta Pappas
Professor Paula Arias, a Miami Law lecturer and International Moot Court Program’s director, and Leticia Mora, J.D. ‘17, a former ICC Moot participant and associate at Shutts & Bowen, coached the team.
"Being part of the ICC moot team and the only international moot court program in the country has been the most rewarding part of my law school experience," said Williams. She served as as the team’s ICC prosecutor in the competition. “This program has prepared me for my future career with the United States Navy, both in the courtroom and as a legal advisor. I am thankful to my teammates and Professor Arias for the long hours and hard work that got us this far and which have expanded my oral and written advocacy more than any other program at Miami Law."
First organized in 2004, the ICC Moot Court Competition is the largest and most prestigious of its kind for international criminal law in the world. Participants draft 10,000 word legal briefs (“memorials”) and argue their role’s position in a hypothetical case. Arguments are based on international case law and the ICC’s treaty, the Rome Statute, which established the court as the first permanent international tribunal dedicated to the prosecution of international criminal offenses, such as genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
"Being in IMCP has been one of the most rewarding law school experiences thus far," said Pappas, who served in the unique ICC role of counsel for the victims. "Professor Arias pushes you to perform at your top potential. I'm thankful for her and for my amazing teammates. We would not have made it as far as we did without having the strong relationship that we have. I'm very excited to compete at The Hague and to take home another win for the law school!"
In addition to being the Best Regional Team for the Americas, Miami Law was recognized as having a particularly commanding defense, winning the Best Defense Counsel Team and Best Defense Counsel in Scollan, whose strong oral advocacy skills helped clinch the worldwide title of the competition’s Best Oralist of the Preliminary Rounds.
"Participating in Miami Law's International Moot Court Program has been the most fulfilling experience of my law school career to date," said Scollan. "Working with my teammates under Professor Paula Arias' exacting eye for detail has pushed me to improve my legal writing and oral advocacy skills. While the weighty matters of war crimes and crimes against humanity are at the forefront of our global conversation with Russia's invasion of Ukraine, gaining fluency in the International Criminal Court's foundational text, the Rome Statute, case law, and scholarship has been academically enriching and sobering in light of ongoing events."
IMCP students represent Miami Law in various international legal competitions worldwide while obtaining course credit. A weekly workshop course and participation in one international moot court competition comprise the program. This year, in addition to the ICC team, students competed in moots addressing international environmental law, foreign direct investment, and international commercial arbitration in both English and Spanish.
The International Moot Court Program also contributed this year to Miami Law’s ranking of 17th in the nation for its moot court programs.
Read more about Miami Law's International Moot Court Program
