AN ENDLESS CYCLE OF LEARNING AND THEN PASSING ON THAT KNOWLEDGE

The skills, international exposure, experience, friendship, and memories are also never ending The sacrifice, sleepless nights, and endless cups of coffee are always worth it The Moot Court Bench doesn’t just cater to law students, it caters to the futu

They say the best lessons are learnt outside the classroom! No, we’re not talking about bunking periods, but rather the polar opposite. We’re referring to the people that have a craving for knowledge and skills, those who really put themselves to the test, challenge their limits and vastly improve their skills and capabilities. Individuals of this calibre converged (virtually, of course) at the International Commercial Arbitration Programme organised and facilitated by the Moot Court Bench, Sri Lanka’s Premier Legal Advocacy Training Platform.

Better known as the MCB, this platform provides law students the opportunity to explore areas of law which are seldom taught within the law school curriculum, thus outside the classroom! The 3 programmes offered by the MCB are the International Commercial Arbitration Programme, the International Trade Law Programme and the International Commercial Mediation and Negotiation Programme. The programmes focus on giving students an in-depth knowledge in the relevant areas as well as training them in the art of Mooting.

For those confused, a Moot is a simulated legal proceeding. Think of a debate, with a spoonful of Suits!

The International Commercial Arbitration Programme came to be in the Year 2020. It was the brainchild of a certain set of individuals who had represented Sri Lanka at the prestigious Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot, a grand slam moot which is held annually in Vienna and Hong Kong which sees the participation of more than 400 teams. These individuals are the Sri Lanka Vis Alumni Network. It was also the first programme offered by the MCB, thereby making these individuals the founding members of the MCB.

In addition to a mere representation, it is all too important to note that the Vis Alumni won numerous awards and even emerged Champions at the Vis Pre-moots held annually. In fact, the Teams were so well recognised that the MCB received and continues to receive the support and endorsement of the Commercial Law Development Programme of the United States Department of Commerce. A successful completion of the ICA Programme in the Year 2020 saw the representation of two teams from Sri Lanka Law College and the Royal Institute of Colombo at the 28th Vis Moot and associated Pre-moots, both of which won numerous accolades as well!