Topics: Pleading competition, Law studies, Federal Supreme Court, Career tips, Networking, Legal career, Swiss Moot Court.
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In October, the 22nd edition of the Swiss Moot Court began. As members of the organizing committee and former participants, you are very familiar with the competition. Could you please explain what the Swiss Moot Court is?

Organizing Committee: The Swiss Moot Court is a pleading competition open to all students enrolled at a Swiss law faculty. It provides students with the opportunity to apply their theoretical knowledge in practice. In the first round, teams consisting of two to four participants draft a legal appeal and a reply to the Federal Supreme Court based on a given case. The area of law and the case content change annually, though the cases are always rooted in private law.

The top twelve teams from the written round then qualify for the oral round in Lucerne. There, they present their pleadings in the Federal Supreme Court premises before a jury composed of federal judges, lawyers, and professors, competing against other teams. The evaluation is based not only on the soundness of the arguments presented but also on the speakers' persuasiveness and rhetoric. The top two teams face each other in the finals, and an additional award is given to the team with the best written performance.

Since its first edition in 2002, the Swiss Moot Court has become a key component of the curriculum at several universities.

How is the Swiss Moot Court perceived by the Swiss legal sector, and what kind of support do teams receive during their preparation?

Organizing Committee: Over the years, the Swiss Moot Court has become increasingly established in the legal sector and particularly in law faculties. This is largely because alumni of the competition, now active in the legal field, often recall the unique memories associated with their participation. As a result, the Swiss Moot Court benefits from a growing network and broader support and visibility within the legal sector.

Since our founding, many federal judges, professors, and law firms have supported us year after year. They share the enthusiasm for the Swiss Moot Court and pass it on to the students. This includes not only financial but also personal support, such as dedicating time to the Swiss Moot Court, promoting it, evaluating the students' work, and being present at the oral rounds in Lucerne. This ongoing support has been instrumental in achieving the Swiss Moot Court's current popularity.

However, this support is limited to the organization of the competition itself. For the preparation of legal briefs, students (aside from a kick-off event for participants) must work independently. They are expected to navigate their roles as legal representatives and grow from this challenge, maximizing their learning experience. This concept, along with the limited guidance provided, distinguishes the Swiss Moot Court and its participants from other moot courts.

I especially enjoy recognizing true pleading qualities, including a keen sense for language, phrasing, and debate. Overall, the energy this competition radiates is incredibly inspiring. - Prof. Dr. Anne-Sylvie Dupont

Professor Dupont, you are a professor at the Universities of Neuchâtel and Geneva and a long-standing jury member of the Swiss Moot Court. What excites you most about the Swiss Moot Court?

Prof. Dr. Dupont: I am particularly impressed by the motivation and commitment of the students. Participating in a competition like the Swiss Moot Court requires stepping out of one's comfort zone and demands a significant investment of time and energy. I am consistently amazed by their dedication and desire to deliver excellent results. I especially enjoy recognizing true pleading qualities, including a keen sense for language, phrasing, and debate. Overall, the energy this competition radiates is incredibly inspiring.

Participation in the Swiss Moot Court is voluntary and not a mandatory part of the curriculum. Why is the competition still so popular? Can participation be credited toward academic studies?

Organizing Committee: This year, we’ve reached a record number of participants with 63 teams and 210 students from ten different universities! The reasons for participating are varied. Generally speaking, participation is worthwhile both academically and personally. On the academic side, participation can often be credited in the form of ECTS points and may even replace writing a bachelor’s or master’s thesis in some cases. On the personal side, it offers invaluable insights into future legal practice: when else do students get the chance to draft an appeal and a reply for the Federal Supreme Court and plead in the Federal Supreme Court building in Lucerne, including in front of federal judges? The practical knowledge and experience gained during the Swiss Moot Court are truly unique.

Participation is also particularly popular among students aiming for internships at prestigious law firms. The oral rounds provide numerous networking opportunities, including several aperitifs and a gala dinner, where participants can connect with high-profile jury members (federal judges, sponsors’ representatives, and professors) and other students, especially the top teams from the written phase across Switzerland. The network formed through the Swiss Moot Court should not be underestimated. Over the years, the ever-growing "Mootie-Community" has been fostered through regular local and nationwide events organized by the SMC ALUMNI association.

What long-term benefits do you see for participants regarding their legal careers and professional lives?

Prof. Dr. Dupont: The résumés of law graduates are often quite similar. Recruiters are frequently looking for that "something extra" that makes an application stand out from the crowd. Any experience demonstrating your willingness to take risks and your passion for meticulous work will, in my view, give you a clear advantage when entering the workforce. On an individual level, the Swiss Moot Court provides an opportunity to build a network, overcome fears, and prove to yourself that you can successfully tackle a challenging task. This can only boost your self-confidence in facing future professional challenges.

How can participation in the Swiss Moot Court be balanced with academic commitments?

Organizing Committee: The Swiss Moot Court takes place during the autumn semester. The case is published during the first week of the semester, and submissions are due six weeks later. For most participants, the workload is compressed into this six-week period. For the top 12 teams from the written round, the oral rounds are held in spring during the semester break—usually on the weekend right before the start of the spring semester—and span two days.

Depending on the ambition of the students, participation in the Swiss Moot Court, particularly the written phase, can be very time-intensive. Nevertheless, the competition is confined to the first half of the semester and can be well-aligned with attending other courses. However, we do not recommend writing another academic paper during this period. That said, there will certainly be plenty of time after submitting the briefs in early November to focus on other projects.

it’s about thinking like a lawyer, and the arguments must be presented to the jury in an appropriate manner. Therefore, participating means learning the tools of the trade of lawyers in a short time and working in detail on a specific area of law. - Swiss Moot Court Organizing Committee

How time-consuming is participation in the competition?

Organizing Committee: In general, it can be said that participating in the Swiss Moot Court is more time-consuming than attending other university courses, as students need to acquire new competencies. Specifically, they not only need to write down learned theoretical concepts, but also gather arguments, structure them, and extract the best possible outcome for the client, while keeping legal foundations and scholarly opinions in mind. In short, it’s about thinking like a lawyer, and the arguments must be presented to the jury in an appropriate manner. Therefore, participating means learning the tools of the trade of lawyers in a short time and working in detail on a specific area of law. Both of these come with a corresponding additional effort. In return, another examination is waived. Furthermore, the knowledge gained in this context will benefit the students, especially during an internship at a law firm. Last but not least, students participating in the Swiss Moot Court prove that they are willing to go the extra mile for their personal development and further education. The extra effort is worth it.

The Swiss Moot Court can be completed in both German and French. How important are skills in the other competition language?

Organizing Committee: The Swiss Moot Court is a bilingual competition, which aims to overcome the “Röstigraben” (the language divide) and bring students from different (language) regions of Switzerland together. Skills in the other competition language are appreciated during exchanges with students or jury members from the other language region, and are also rewarded with bonus points in the evaluation.

However, the lack of proficiency in the other competition language should not deter anyone from participating, especially since the bonus points awarded for mastering the other competition language are usually not decisive in winning the competition. Additionally, the complaints and response submissions can be fully submitted in either German or French. The same applies to the oral round: participants can argue in either German or French. Some language barriers are part of the oral round of the Swiss Moot Court and have already led to some fun and memorable moments, and – in the spirit of the Swiss Moot Court – motivated some students to engage in language exchange or take a semester abroad within Switzerland. The current organizing committee has not been fully immune to such language barriers either.

What criteria are the teams evaluated on? What skills or abilities are particularly important for success in the Swiss Moot Court?

Prof. Dr. Dupont: The teams are first evaluated based on their written skills, both in content and form. The structure of the text, the coherence of the argumentation, and, of course, the accuracy of the legal arguments are the most important content-related criteria. Formally, aspects such as spelling, syntax, and correct citation are evaluated. If using AI tools, it is important to note that this is easily detectable. Therefore, it is not a good idea to simply copy and paste.

Has there been a team in recent years that particularly impressed you? What made them remarkable?

Prof. Dr. Dupont: Every year, there is at least one team that impresses me and that I would like to see win. The reasons for my admiration are not always the same. In general, I am impressed by teams that work like one body, where each person knows exactly what they must do and actively supports the others. I have great admiration for teams that truly try to argue and show creativity in their legal arguments.

What are typical mistakes that teams often make during the competition, and how could they avoid them?

Prof. Dr. Dupont: For me, the worst mistake a team can make, one that would immediately disqualify them in my eyes, is aggressiveness. I do not appreciate it at all when teams are disrespectful towards the opposing team, launch personal attacks, or act dishonestly. I think the legal world today suffers greatly from the decline of collegial relationships, and it is counterproductive to promote such behavior. You must also avoid reading your text. It's necessary to engage with the jury; otherwise, they will get bored.

Less serious mistakes include verbal ticks ("uh...") and physical habits, such as touching your hair. The only solution here is practice... If you know you tend to touch your hair, for example, you should tie it up to avoid temptation. If you tend to touch your jewelry, it's better not to wear any. Holding a pen can help control movements.

What tips do you have for participants who want to get the most out of the Swiss Moot Court?

Prof. Dr. Dupont: If you have the opportunity, assemble a mixed team, both in terms of gender and languages. Having team members who are fluent in both languages gives you easy access to all sources.

When preparing the written part, be thorough—both in content and form. Create a work that is enjoyable to read. When preparing your plea, don't forget that the goal is to convince the judges, not to provide a legal opinion orally. Be creative and enjoy it. If you get bored during your plea, you can be sure that the jury will be bored too.

What advice do you give to students who are interested in participating in the Swiss Moot Court?

Organizing Committee: Be disciplined during the written phase, but still have fun! It cannot be denied that the written phase—like writing any group paper or taking any exam—can be tedious. However, some team-building and "fun moments" should definitely be included. The better the team works, the better the task can be completed. If you qualify for the oral round, we recommend fully enjoying the two days in Lucerne and exchanging ideas with other people—even across language barriers. The experiences gained in the Swiss Moot Court will accompany students for a lifetime, and an active exchange with other students and friendships across Switzerland make looking back even more enjoyable.

Thank you very much for the exciting insights into the Swiss Moot Court. We wish you the best of luck with the event and all the best for the future!

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