THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2019/2020

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Law : Law

Postgraduate Course: Willem Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot (LLM) (LAWS11312)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Law CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits40 ECTS Credits20
SummaryStudents will be participating in the Willem Vis international commercial arbitration moot (see http://www.cisg.law.pace.edu/vis.html), which is a mock trial of arbitration proceedings with written memoranda for claimant and respondent and oral hearings in front of an arbitral tribunal. Participation in the Moot and the Vis Moot course, where teaching will be driven by student-led research, will strongly support the development of students as independent learners and will enhance their practical skills in addition to the attainment of a high level of academic subject matter knowledge.

Course description The teaching and learning approach of the course is student centred: Students will be introduced to the subject areas of international commercial arbitration and international sales law before being tasked to work on the moot problem scenario, undertaking research and drafting team notes and parts of the memoranda. Students will be supported by means of seminars in which students will be given guidance and feedback on their performance in preparation for the moot.

Students will be learning how to represent a client in international commercial arbitration, both with written statements and orally in the hearing. The scenario is developed by the moot organisers and posted on the website of the Willem Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot in early October every year and oral arguments take place in Vienna during the week before Easter. All teams that enter are invited to plead their case in Vienna.

WARNING: Students, who are practicing lawyers with extensive experience in in the fields of arbitration or international sale transactions are disqualified from participation in the Willem Vis Moot and thus also from choosing this course. Students licenced to practice law will need to obtain express permission from the Moot Directors of the Vis Moot (see Moot Rules Part III para. 26, available at http://www.cisg.law.pace.edu/cisg/moot/rules20.pdf) and must indicate this on their application form.

Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements There is a bespoke application process for this course and students should contact the postgraduate office for details.

Students who are practicing lawyers with extensive experience in in the fields of arbitration or international sale transactions are disqualified from participation in the Willem Vis Moot and thus also from choosing this course. Students licenced to practice law will need to obtain express permission from the Moot Directors of the Vis Moot (see Moot Rules Part III para. 26, available at http://www.cisg.law.pace.edu/cisg/moot/rules20.pdf) and must indicate this on their application form.
Additional Costs N/A
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesThere is a bespoke application process for this course and students should contact the postgraduate office for details.

Students who are practicing lawyers with extensive experience in in the fields of arbitration or international sale transactions are disqualified from participation in the Willem Vis Moot and thus also from choosing this course. Students licenced to practice law will need to obtain express permission from the Moot Directors of the Vis Moot (see Moot Rules Part III para. 26, available at http://www.cisg.law.pace.edu/cisg/moot/rules20.pdf) and must indicate this on their application form.
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate a high level of conceptual understanding of aspects of International Commercial Arbitration and International Sale of Goods as relevant to the Moot problem posted on the Moot website in October of the relevant year.
  2. Develop an understanding of how contemporary issues in international trade law/sales law arise and are resolved in practice.
  3. Gain an understanding of how international commercial arbitration works in practice and of the interaction between procedural and substantive law in practice.
  4. Critically analyse and evaluate aspects of the UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration and the United National Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods 1980 (CISG).
  5. Appropriately research this specialist area of law and procedure so as to produce parts of the written memoranda on an individual basis.
Reading List
One of the following is suggested:
- Garner, B. A., The winning brief: 100 tips for persuasive briefing in trial and appellate courts, 2nd edn, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004

- Kee, Ch., The Art of Argument: A Guide to Mooting, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2007

- Kroell, S., Mistellis, L.A., Perales Viscasillas, P., and Rogers, V. (eds.), International arbitration and international commercial law : synergy, convergence, and evolution - Liber Amicorum Eric Bergsten, Kluwer Law International, The Hague, 2011

- Walker, J., The Vis Book, A participant's Guide to the Willem c. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot, Juris Publishing Inc, Huntington, New York, 2008

- Pope, D., Hill, D., Mooting and Advocacy Skills, Sweet & Maxwell, London, 2007

Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills LO 3. Skills and abilities in Personal and Intellectual Autonomy
¿ Develop original and creative responses to problems and issues.
¿ Deal with complex issues and make informed judgments in situations in the absence of complete or consistent data/information. Especially, capacity to engage with a holistic assessment of complex policies at the national level relating to the insurance industry.
¿ Identify the need for and engage with interdisciplinary cooperation to create and implement effective public policies.

LO 4. Skills and abilities in Communication
¿ Communicate with peers, more senior colleagues, and specialists.
¿ Participate to a brainstorming and contribute to a collective reflections on issue solving
¿ Understand a broad variety of sources.

LO 5. Skills and abilities in Personal Effectiveness
¿ Develop their ability to work independently under fixed deadlines.
¿ Develop their ability to lead and participate in team work.
¿ Develop their assertiveness with peers and supervising staff.
¿ Participate effectively in seminars and discussions.

Develop their ability to present the outcome of independent research in a clear written and oral form.
Special Arrangements Class Size:
Due to the expected high interest in this course the selection of candidates will have to take place alongside with course enrolment.

Application process:
Please contact the School Postgraduate Office for details. Numbers are restricted on this course.
Keywordsinternational commercial arbitration,mooting,willem vis moot,international sale of goods
Contacts
Course organiserDr Simone Lamont-Black
Tel: (0131 6)50 2060
Email: simone.lamont-black@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Karin Bolton
Tel: (0131 6)50 2022
Email: Karin.Bolton@ed.ac.uk
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