Congratulations to Rushil Saluja! Representing Monash University at the IBA ICC Moot Court Competition 2023, Rushil worked extremely hard to get all the way through to the semi-finals. As a valued and extremely hard-working team member of the firm, we are very proud of this achievement.
Rushil has commented on his experience, expounding on the depth of skill and knowledge he has learned from his time away:
“From June 2nd to June 9th, my team and I had the privilege of participating in the prestigious IBA ICC Moot Court Competition 2023 in The Hague, Netherlands. The city is renowned as the seat of the International Criminal Court (‘ICC’), adding to the significance of the event. We were among 80 teams from 50 countries, making this an enriching global experience.
As a first-time participant, our team faced some unique challenges. However, we were fortunate to have some members as mentors and teammates with prior experience in the Nuremberg Moot, which proved invaluable in preparing us for the principles of international criminal law and case strategies.
One of the major hurdles in the competition was the involvement of three parties: Prosecution, Defence, and Government, as opposed to the traditional two-party dispute between the Prosecution and the Defence. As the Prosecution, I had to carefully distinguish our arguments from the Government’s, even though we were advocating for the same result. It required meticulous planning and coordination within our team to ensure seamless pleadings.
Despite the initial uncertainties, our dedication paid off, and we made it to the semi-finals! In this round, we were honoured to be judged by her Honour Judge Joanna Korner from Trial Chamber I of the ICC. The icing on the cake was witnessing the three finalist teams plead the fictitious case before a 3 Judge bench at the ICC – truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Beyond the competition, the international aspect of the event allowed us to interact with law students from around the globe. It was fascinating to discuss the differences in legal systems and practices in different countries, finding solace in the fact that law students everywhere face similar challenges.
It has been an unforgettable journey of growth and learning, and I look forward to participating in more such experiences in the future!”
This competition, held in the International Criminal Court (ICC), welcomes universities from all over the world to participate in a large-scale moot. It aims to promote the study of international criminal law, to be a part of the training of young lawyers, and to contribute to the development of skills and knowledge in international criminal law.
