APU 2020 Major Seminar I

Asia Cup 2020 is CANCELLED due to the situation concerning the COVID-19 outbreak.I will contact registered students about the alternative contents.

 

演習の目標 / Seminar Objectives
Students will engage in a moot court--the stimulation game of international court proceedings--to train their legal research and argumentation skills.
演習の運営方法 / Ways of Conducting This Seminar
※In 2020 Spring semester, 5th semester students can apply for this seminar as "main seminar". 5th and 6th semester students can apply for this seminar as "sub seminar".

In this seminar, we will use the problem (facts) from the Asia Cup Moot Court Competition 2020. Students will be divided into the groups of two or three, representing either the applicant or respondent side.
In first few classes, students will be introduced to the rules of moot court, research methods as well as legal writing and presentation. Soon after, students will start working in groups to analyse facts, research law, and draft arguments. In each seminar, both sides will present their arguments and get feedback from instructor and participants. Each team will present their legal arguments in the form of written memorials (briefs) in the mid-term, and there will be a final oral presentation match. It will be a game, so there will be a winning team and loosing team. There is also a chance that we will compete against a different university.
開講言語 / Language
English
If necessary, Japanese can be used in the preparation phase, but not in writing memorials or making oral presentations. Note that most of the reading materials will be in English.
使用するテキスト・参考文献などの紹介 / Texts and materials
Students will be required to conduct the broad and deep research of international law using library and online resources.
Useful starting points are:
Malcolm N. Shaw, International Law (Cambridge University Press, 2017);
Rüdiger Wolfrum (ed), The Max Planck Encyclopedias of International Law (Oxford Oxford University Press, 2012-2013), available at the Reference Books corner.
受講生に望むこと / Expectations for Students
Students taking this seminar must be committed and willing to pursue teamwork. This will be an intensive seminar, but should be stimulating, fun and rewarding.
(To get the sense, see the video about the Jessup Moot)

Although this is not a requirement, students are encouraged to register for the Asia Cup Moot Court Competition. If written memorials pass Japan national round, students can take part in the tournament in Tokyo, which will be held in August 2020. There is no registration fee, but students need to cover for their own travel and accommodation expenses.
(Check details of the Asia Cup here)
ゼミ相談時間及びそれに関するコメント / Consultation Dates
Office Hour (Thu., 3rd period) or after classes
この演習科目と関わって履修が望ましい科目 / Relevant Courses
International law EA
想定される進路 / Potential Career Paths
Many "mooters" become lawyers, but they also have advantages in the field of diplomacy, international and domestic public sector, business, media, and social sector, given the knowledge of international law, legal skills and logical thinking that can acquire through the activity.
ゼミで使用するオンラインデータベース / Online Databases
HeinOnline, JSTORE and other
申請結果発表後、履修開始までにやっておいて欲しいこと / Preparation before the Seimar Starts
Please familiarize yourself with rules and the problem of the Asia Cup.