IRAQ ACCESS TO JUSTICE PROGRAM 2014 IRAQ NATIONAL JESSUP COMPETITION: FINAL REPORT

The competition began in June 2013 with early discussions between Program staff and the transition of Program staff. Initial contacts were made with law schools and high-level officials from the High Judicial Councils of Iraq and the Iraqi Kurdistan Region. In July 2013, Program staff met with the Chief Judge of the Kurdistan Supreme Court to discuss the Jessup Competition and potential support. The Chief Judge expressed interest in supporting the competition but was unable to provide financial support. Instead, he agreed to consider other forms of support. As a result, the Program staff developed a list of suggested ways in which supporters could participate in the Jessup Competition. Throughout August and September 2013, Program staff conducted phone calls to law schools across Iraq to inform them about the 2014 competition. The Program also conducted a day-long conference with law school deans in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, during which they expressed their support for developing a full legal aid system, including law school and CSO legal clinics, pro bono, and the Jessup Competition. In September 2013, the 2014 Jessup Competition registration opened, and the Compromis (the Jessup Problem) was officially released and made available via the International Law Student Association (ILSA). The Program sent the PDF and word version of the problem to all Iraqi law schools, reminding them of the November 15 deadline to register their teams. During October 2013, planning meetings were held with relevant Program personnel to discuss their scope of participation and assistance for the 2014 competition year. Meetings were also held with the Baghdad Law School dean and the Iraqi Law School dean, both of whom offered to host the 2014 competition. Teams were sent to each law school to discuss and assess competition and accommodation space available. In November 2013, meetings were held with the President and staff of American University of Iraq in Sulaymaniyah, Judge Ahmed, Chief Justice of the IKR High Judicial Council, and Salah Ad-Din Law School's Dean to discuss and assess competition and accommodation space. The deadline for teams to register for the 2014 Jessup Competition was November 15, and 13 Iraqi law schools registered and payment was received for 11. The Program staff made several recommendations for future competitions, including preserving contact information of law school point of contact and team coaches, circulating deadline schedules as early as possible, and actively engaging with Baghdad University to mentor a team of Iraqis to coordinate future Jessup competitions. Close coordination between the Program, Baghdad University, and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research was also recommended for future competitions.