For the 2025ÌýOfficial Rules, pleaseÌýclick here.
Notice of Changes made for the 30th Anniversary of the Competition – IAMOOT 2025
Please note that as part of the celebration of our 30th Anniversary, The Inter-American Moot Court Competition Technical Committee has decided to implement substantial changes to the Competition's rules. These changes are based, among others, on the feedback from the teams, coaches, and judges. The Technical Committee is confident these changes will make IAMOOT a more comprehensive experience for all our participants while providing a more enriching academic journey. It constitutes a celebration of the legacy of more than 4900 students and faculty participants from over 365 universities over the last 30 years that keeps growing.
The new Rules have been effectively published since December 20th, 2024.
All participants shall be advised that this year comprehensive changes substantially alter, modified, eliminated or added provisions of the Rules. Teams are specially encouraged to review in detailed the Rules since some of the new provision include Team’s responsibility to prepare for both role: Victims and State for both stages of the Competition, written submission and oral argument sessions.
The Technical Committee also added new modification in term of Artificial Intelligence (AI)Ìýimproper use and stronger penalties for the use of electronic devices during oral rounds for Teams and Judges.
The Technical Committee also seeks to recognize students who, while not serving as orators, contribute significantly as researchers rather than merely acting as observers. These individuals will have the opportunity to be acknowledged as researchers under the "Observers" category, in accordance with all applicable provisions outlined in our Rules.
Be aware that under the new system, each Team will prepare two (2) legal briefs representing the VICTIMS and the STATE. Teams that do not present both memorials will not be able to participate in the oral argument sessions.
The Preliminary Round of the Competition shall consist of two (2) Oral Argument Sessions for each Team. In each session, the Participating Team shall present different Roles: STATE or VICTIM, not necessarily in that order. In exceptional circumstances, certain Participant Teams may be scheduled to argue a third time, as specified in Rule 9.3.3. Teams that win two (2) rounds shall qualify directly for the Semi-Finals. Teams that lose two (2) rounds shall be automatically disqualified. Teams that win one (1) round and lose one (1) round shall be considered eligible for the Semi-Final Rounds, contingent upon their final Memorial Score (Rule 8.7.1). Only a limited number of candidates in this category shall qualify, according to the procedure set forth in Rule 9.4.
Teams that win one (1) round and lose one (1) round shall be considered eligible for the Semi-Final Rounds based on their final Memorial Score, in accordance with Rule 8.7.1. The first two (2) to eight (8) Teams, as ranked by their final Memorial Score, will qualify for the Semi-Finals. The Technical Committee reserves the right to make adjustments to the number of Teams advancing to the Semi-Finals, taking into account the total number of Teams participating in the Competition and in the best interests of the Competition.
The Technical Committee is proud of the new system of oral rounds evaluation which will substantially simplify some of the Competition procedures by adapting our beloved program to the challenges of recent years for both, Competition of this format and the Inter-American System.
Any doubt regarding this change and its application to the Competition should be directed to the following email: iamoot@wcl.american.edu