29 April 2015
Bilbao Campus
This key event is a niche which combines employment opportunities and enhances legal talents.
A total of 31 universities from 13 countries took part in the 7th edition of the MOOT, held at Madrid’s University Carlos III from 20 to 24 April. The convention was sponsored by UNCITRAL and leading Spanish law firms, which fosters the connection between academics and careers.
Ala Grosu, Mikel Martínez, Borja Simón, Clara Soret, Juan Lázaro, Clotilde Deney and Julen Alfonso, students from the UD Master’s Degree in Law and Legal Practice and the Bachelor’s degree in Law took part in the convention held in Madrid.
“The team members’ interventions have been brilliant. This proves that Deusto has a large group of international lawyers with a high professional and intellectual level. During their interventions, all of them maintained an academic colloquium worthy of some of the best experts in international arbitration", said UD lecturer in Private Law and coach for the University’s team, Javier Viaña.
Master’s Degree in Law and Legal Practice student Ala Grosu agrees with Viaña and recommends this experience to other students. Although he admits that the participation requires a great deal of preparation and effort, he states that “it is very satisfying to receive feedback from authors like Cremades, or lawyers from the Hague Tribunal, etc. who highlight your strengths while advising you how to improve your weaknesses. They will speak from personal experience”, said Viaña.
He encourages other students to try this experience as it is "the perfect opportunity to take one’s first steps to a career in Law as the tribunal is formed by partners from firms like Uría Menéndez, Cuatrecasas, Garrigues, Baker & Mckenzie, etc.
Grosu said the best part was “working with my colleagues. We have laughed and even disagreed on certain matters but in the end, we have always supported each other. I want to thank the University of Deusto for this opportunity but I would also like to specially thank our coach Javier Viaña. None of this would have been possible without his help”.
Mikel Martínez – 3rd year student, Bachelor’s degree in Law– “Taking part in MOOT Madrid 2015 is something I really recommend. The experience allows you to meet professionals from the field of International Commercial Arbitration and learn from them".
Borja Simón – student, Master’s Degree in Law and Legal Practice – remarked that “the MOOT Court Madrid is a unique opportunity for any Law student who wants to broaden not only theoretical knowledge but also communication skills before tribunals".
“The experience allows you to gain greater knowledge of subjects like Trade Law or even Competition Law. Both subjects are secondary on academic curricula although they are extremely important for today’s economic operators”.
Simón believes that the most important aspect of this experience is the opportunity for lawyers of the highest level – members of the Hague Tribunal, partners at Backer & Mckenzie, and other well known prestigious firms, PhDs and specialists, etc. – to get to know students. It is the perfect context to gain insight into international arbitration, which, in the future, will be considered as one of the best alternative conflict resolution systems”.
He concluded, “this competition has been the best professional experience I’ve had in my 5 years at the University of Deusto”.
Clara Soret – student, Master’s Degree in Law and Legal Practice – shares her classmate’s point of view and also stated that it has been an “unforgettable experience”. She considers that “it has been worth every minute”. This is why she encourages other students to "not to miss this opportunity. Stage fright became satisfaction and happiness after every hearing. Meeting participants from foreign universities and arbitrators who show great interest and appreciate each intervention, in addition to the possibility of enjoying the experience at first class firms is something that future lawyers from the University of Deusto should not miss”.
Juan Lázaro – 3rd year student, Bachelor’s degree in Law-observes that the MOOT Court Madrid experience has turned out to be highly “stimulating and constructive”. He also recommends it to all of his classmates as he believes it is a unique experience. “Teamwork, the necessary coordination and the research to solve each case, new friendships, expectations, hopes...” all make the MOOT unforgettable.
One of Juan’s classmates, Clotilde Deney, remembers “the MOOT 2015 experience as something wonderful, not only academically but also at a human level” It was very enriching to find out that my experience at the MOOT 2015 would be a special and unique part of my life and my studies. I received a warm welcome from the entire University of Deusto team, the arbitrators and other participants. Even if we have not won this year, I really want to participate in the next one to see Deusto win. I highly recommend this experience!”
Julen Alfonso - 4th year student – the “MOOT has been a professional experience which I highly recommend to every Law student. On the one hand, you learn a lot about subjects we don’t really study during our degree. In addition to that, you do it in a practical way, which helps you learn faster. On the other hand, it allows you to put into practice your capacity for improvisation and public speaking. All of this before experts who will question your arguments. Thanks to this experience I have become more self confident in my field, as it has allowed me to meet people from all over the world. Since all of us worked on the same cases, I can really say I’ve learnt a lot from this”, he states.
