Wayne State University Law School Advances to Top 3% Worldwide at International Jessup Competition in Washington, D.C.

Detroit, MI - The Wayne State University Law School team delivered an exceptional performance at the international rounds of the prestigious Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition in Washington, D.C., finishing among the top 3% of teams worldwide. The Jessup is the largest and most renowned moot court competition in the world; the competition simulates proceedings before the International Court of Justice, bringing together top law students from across the globe. Wayne Law earned its place in Washington after a dominant showing at the U.S. regional competition in Atlanta, where the team went undefeated in preliminary rounds and advanced through elimination play.

Building on that momentum, Wayne Law continued its success on the global stage in Washington, D.C., going 4-0 in the international preliminary rounds against an impressive slate of competitors, including the University of Oxford, Symbiosis Law School (India), Kuwait International Law School, and Sciences Po (France). Their strong performance advanced them to the highly competitive Round of 64, placing them among the top 55 teams worldwide to reach the elimination stage.

In the knockout rounds, Wayne Law secured a second standout victory over the University of Oxford and advanced to the Round of 32. There, the team faced Ateneo de Manila University in a closely contested match. While their run concluded at that stage, their advancement to the Round of 32 solidified their position among the top-performing teams in the world. Ateneo de Manila University, their final opponent, went to the tournament's final championship round.

"This year's team demonstrated extraordinary skill, preparation, and resilience," said Gregory Fox, faculty advisor, professor of law and director of the program for international studies. "To compete at this level and achieve a top 3% global finish is a remarkable accomplishment and a testament to their dedication."

"I think this Wayne Jessup team will be remembered as the one that beat Oxford twice," Fox added.

The tournament had 165 teams participating from almost 100 countries, some doing so online because they were unable to secure visas to travel to the United States. Globally, more than 800 teams competed to win a spot in the Washington rounds.

At the United States qualifying tournament, Wayne Law's written submissions ranked among the top 25, and team member Erin Dorn distinguished herself individually as the 13th-ranked oralist out of approximately 350 competitors.

The Wayne State University Law School Jessup team's success reflects the strength of its advocacy training and commitment to excellence in international law. Their performance in Washington, D.C. stands as a proud achievement for the law school and its community.