LWMCAM-International Commercial Arbitration Mooting

Module Provider: School of Law
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites: Students must be registered on the Accredited International Commercial Arbitration Law module.
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2019/0

Email: b.adebola@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module immerses students in a ‘real world’ example of an international commercial law dispute to be resolved through the international commercial arbitration process. A team of 4 students will participate in the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot (‘Vis Moot’) which presents an opportunity for students to participate in mock arbitration proceedings. The Vis Moot invites them to develop deeper understanding of the advocacy, and research skills required in the arbitration process, as well as the discipline required to manage case-loads effectively while complying with procedural rules.

Aims:

The module is designed:

• To provide students with the opportunity to deepen their understanding of substantive and procedural aspects of international commercial arbitration.


• To afford students the opportunity to develop critical reasoning and advocacy skills.


• To offer students the opportunity to develop advanced case management skills.

Assessable learning outcomes:

On completion of the module, students will be expected to demonstrate:

• The ability to identity the core issues to be resolved in international commercial disputes.


• The ability to apply substantive international commercial arbitration rules and laws to international commercial disputes.


• The ability to engage with the reasoning process involved in making arguments in international commercial arbitration, as well as the process of advocacy within the discipline.


• The ability to manage an international commercial arbitration case load, and present oral legal arguments they have constructed themselves in a formal mooting context.

Additional outcomes:

In addition to those listed in the School’s ‘core skills statement’, the module will encourage the development of:

• Team building skills


• Time management skills.


• International networking skills.

Outline content:

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

The module is based, primarily, on independent study.

• In the Autumn term, the students will be required to conduct research in the field of International Commercial Arbitration based on a fictional international commercial dispute. By the end of the Autumn Term, they will they will submit, as a team, two detailed Memoranda. There will be discussion sessions (‘supervision tutorials’) throughout the Autumn Term in support of the preparation of the Memoranda. The supervision tutorials will be led by a member of staff who will act as the moot team’s ‘coach’.


• During the Spring Term, students will be given tutorials on advocacy skills. (‘practical workshops’) They will be required to deliver an oral presentation of their Memoranda arguments and participate in a practice moot. The sessions aim to prepare students for the experience of mooting in an international competition.


• Students will be expected to utilise the skills acquired during the Spring Term at an assessed external moot - the Vis Moot - that will take place in Vienna.


• Please note: The module is designed as a team exercise. Students accepted on this module will be competing on behalf of the University at the pre-moot and oral rounds of the Vis Moot. They have a responsibility to collaborate effectively with their fellow team members and to complete the module, barring reasonable extenuating circumstances.

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

• Two written Memoranda researched and prepared as a team to be submitted as part of the Vis Moot in the Autumn term. The Memoranda argue both sides of a fictional international commercial arbitration dispute. The Memoranda should follow the strict Vis Moot guidelines for written memoranda. The Memoranda must be submitted in both hard copy and electronic form by the stipulated deadlines. No extensions can be sought for submission for competition purposes but the usual rules on extensions apply for University purposes. The assessment of the Memoranda forms 60% of the total mark for the module.


• Oral assessment: individual performance at the pre-moot and Vis moot competitions in the Spring Term form 40% of the total marks for the module.

Formative assessment methods:

• In the Autumn Term, detailed feedback is provided on submitted drafts of the summative Memoranda, prior to the final submission.


• In the Spring Term, detailed feedback is provided after the pre-moot.

Penalties for late submission:
Penalties for late submission on this module are in accordance with the University policy. Please refer to page 5 of the Postgraduate Guide to Assessment for further information: http://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/exams/student/exa-guidePG.aspx

Assessment requirements for a pass:

50% overall

Reassessment arrangements:

This will involve one of, or a combination of the following:

• The submission of an individual research project based on an issue in International Commercial Arbitration comparable to that assessed in the Vis Moot.


• An individual internal presentation on a topic on International Commercial Arbitration.

Please not that only elements where a pass mark has not been secured must be retaken, with the marks for any passed elements being carried forward.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Last updated: 10 April 2019