In conversation with RMLNLU's winning team, Leiden Sarin International Air Law Moot

The team from Dr Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow emerged as the Winners of the 12^th Leiden Sarin International Air Law Moot, 2021. The team also bagged the Best Oral Pleadings (Respondent) award at the competition.

The winning team consisted of Anushka (Class of 2022), Ayesha Zaidi (Class of 2022) and Shashwat Awasthi (Class of 2022)

Campus Ambassador Sushant Kumar conducted an interview with the winning team.

Why did you choose this moot?

Each of us had an experience of participating in commercial law moots, and we wanted to explore the nuances of public international law. To this extent, we chose Leiden Sarin Air Law Moot because of the practical relevance of the issues that are usually involved in the Moot. The involvement of eminent institutions such as the Leiden University, Dutch Airways etc. was an added incentive.

What was the journey till the International Rounds?

This year, more than 20 teams competed in the India National Rounds. The qualification criteria for the virtual national rounds involved memorial scores plus the scores from the video arguments that were submitted by the teams (All 20 teams).

Thereafter, the top 4 teams competed in the Virtual National Rounds and three were selected to represent India at the international stage. The two other teams were: National Law University, Jodhpur and NUJS, Kolkata.

What difference was experienced between the National Rounds and the International Rounds?

The national rounds were focused towards testing the overall knowledge of the participants with respect to the subject matter. On the other hand, the international rounds were focused towards the application of the relevant law to the facts of the fictional case.

The judges at the international level were aviation law experts, and naturally so, they wanted to test the aviation specific knowledge of the participants as well. The style and presentation of arguments also paid a huge role at the international rounds.

Who was the Toughest Opponent, in the team’s opinion?

Each and every team we went up against at the international rounds was of great quality. The preparation of all the teams was top-notch and so, we had to be at our best at all times.

However, the team from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, who we faced in the finals was commendable and did an excellent job in terms of presentation of arguments.

How would you describe the experience?

It was a stressful yet enjoyable process. Stressful because the process to qualify for the international rounds was extremely competitive and very long in terms of duration.

The problem was extremely interesting and related to some recent aviation incidents, which enabled us to think more practically and introduce some novel arguments.

The international rounds provided some invaluable lessons to us in terms of advocacy as well as learning from the experiences from actual aviation law practitioners.

We wish we could have interacted with these professionals in person; however, the virtual rounds were organized seamlessly, and the organizers deserve huge credit for that.