Course title

Vis Moot Workshop

Responsible person
NISHIOKA Kazuaki
to enter grades
Numbering CodeJ2ML600

Day・Period, etc. Other(対面)

開講区分

単位数

2nd semester

1.0

Timetable SlotCode3J382

Lesson topic
This workshop aims to prepare students for participation in pre-moots of the Willem C. Vis International Commercial
Arbitration Moot (Vis Moot), scheduled for spring 2025 (at the end of the 2024 academic year). Designed for
aspiring international business lawyers, the course offers a unique opportunity to develop crucial skills in legal
interpretation, persuasive English argumentation, and teamwork through a hands-on mock arbitration project.
The Vis Moot challenges students to tackle international commercial disputes through simulated arbitration
proceedings. Teams represent parties as counsel in disputes related to international sale of goods, honing theirskills in a competitive environment. Our workshop kicks off once the official Problem (a 50-page document inEnglish) is released on 11 October 2024. Embracing a student-led seminar format, this course demands active
participation both in and outside the classroom. Participants will dive deep into issue analysis, conduct thoroughresearch, and draft compelling written arguments.
*This course is planned to be conducted using a combination of face-to-face and real-time remote classes, but theformat may be changed based on participants' preferences.
**The first class will be held on Monday, 7 October, during the second period (10:40-12:10), and the second classwill be on Tuesday, 15 October, during the second period (10:40-12:10). The schedule for the third and subsequentclasses will be determined in consultation with the participants.
***Please note that this course does not aim for participation in the Vis Moot competition in Vienna and Hong Kongin spring 2025.
Lesson target
Upon completing the course, students should be able to (1) understand how arbitration proceeding proceeds, (2)understand and interpret the rules and laws concerning arbitration, (3) write documents properly and argue
effectively in the proceedings, and (4) work with other team members efficiently and help each other effectively.

Syllabus and plan
Week 1: Introduction and Overview of Vis Moot
Week 2: Analysing the Vis Moot 2024 Problem
Week 3: Legal research and brain storming discussion (1)Week 4: Legal research and brain storming discussion (2)Week 5: Preparatory work for the Claimant's memorandum (1)Week 6: Preparatory work for the Claimant's memorandum (2)Week 7: Drafting the Claimant's memorandum (1)Week 8: Drafting the Claimant's memorandum (2)Week 9: Preparatory work for the Respondent's memorandum (1)Week 10: Preparatory work for the Respondent's memorandum (2)Week 11: Drafting the Respondent's memorandum (1)Week 12: Drafting the Respondent's memorandum (2)Week 13: Preparation for oral arguments (1)Week 14: Preparation for oral arguments (2)Week 15: Practice session of oral arguments* After and/or in the course of this workshop, students will participate in pre-moots in Japan and elsewhere.
** The course strucuture may be chagned, depening on the pre-moots in which the team will participate.
Evaluation method-

Contribution to the teamwork for written submissions(50%)
Participation into the research and discussion(50%)

Evaluation baseline
Students should be able to:- explain how arbitration proceeding proceeds.
- interpret the rules and laws concerning arbitration- write documents properly and argue effectively in the proceedings- cooperate with other team members efficiently

Notice (include info. on related class)- Prior to taking this course, students are expected to check the schedule and keep enough time for participatingin this project.
- Foreign language literature (especially in English) will be the main source material.
- There is a possibility that real-time classes using Zoom will become the standard format.
- As mentioned in the course description, active participation outside of class is expected.
- In the final stages of preparation for the international competition, there may be classes involving universities
and practitioners from both within Japan and abroad.

Review and preparation
Preparation: Finish the assigned work in the previous class
Review: Recollect the discussion and consider how to proceed for the next session
Kobe University requires 45 hours of study from students to award one credit, including both in-class instructions
as well as study outside classes. Students are required to prepare for each class and complete the review aftereach class, depending on the respective class goals.

Office hour・Contact information
Make an appointment via email.
Contact details will be provided during the course.

Message for student

Improvemenets in Teaching

Text
To be provided during the course.
Reference Material
N.A.
Classroom Language
EnglishEnglish. Japanese or other languages may be used if needed.

Keywords
Vis Moot, International Commercial Arbitration, UNCITRAL, CISG, UNIDROIT, ICC, IBA, Choice of Law, New York