UT Law Students became Quarter-finalists at the European Law Moot Court

The team of UT's Faculty of Law came among four best in the regional finals of the European Law Moot Court at Lucern, Switzerland. One of the team members, Viktor Nikonov, was elected the best Advocate General.

Over 80 universities participated in the first, written round. Twelve of them got to the oral competition at Lucern, including many top universities of the world, such us Kings College, Freier Universität Berlin, the universities of Hannover and Helsinki, the College of Europe etc. The University of Tartu outperformed them all, coming second best only to well-known centres of European law -- the universities of Leuven and Maastricht.

One of the team's instructors, Senior Lecturer Carri Ginter said that UT's team gave an excellent performance reaching the quarter finals, because it was the world's most reputable competition about European Law. "But the most spectacular achievement belonged to Viktor Nikonov. The best Advocate General's title propelled him straight to the finals. We proved that the UT's Faculty of Law can hold their own, competing with the world's top centres of European Law. All the nine judges were crack shots in the law of European Union," Ginter said. He added that the preparations are already being made for the finals that take place at the European Court of Justice in April.

According to Kärt Pormeister of UT's team, the competition is the most intense way to study the law of EU. To pass it, one has to be able to orientate freely in the labyrinth of EU law. This prowess can only be acquired by enormous amount of court work experience. "Also, the oral round requires public performance skills; using one's knowledge must come with ease."

The team was instructed by Carri Ginter, a Senior Lecturer of EU law at UT, with Lecturer René Värk and Merike Saarmann of the office of the Chancellor of Justice. In preliminary work, judges Kai Härmand and Meeli Kaur of the Harju County Court also provided support.
 
It was already the 24th annual ELMC competition. One team from each of the four quarter finals will get to the finals at the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg.

More information: www.elmc.org

For additional information contact Carri Ginter, a docent of EU law at UT, Phone: 640 0914, E-mail: carri [dot] ginter [ät] ut [dot] ee


Anneli Miljan
The Spokesperson of the University of Tartu
Phone: +372 737 5683
Cell Phone: +372 515 0184
E-mail: anneli [dot] miljan [ät] ut [dot] ee
www.ut.ee