Irak
The American University of Iraq-Baghdad (AUIB) has emerged victorious in the 2026 Iraqi National Rounds of the Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, held in Erbil. This achievement grants AUIB the honor of representing Iraq at the International Rounds in Washington, D.C., where they will compete alongside top law schools from over 100 countries.
The Jessup Competition is the world's largest moot court competition, focusing on public international law. This year, the Iraqi National Rounds brought together 12 university teams from across the country, making it one of the largest national rounds in the Middle East and the 13th largest globally.
Sherri Kraham Talabany, President and Executive Director of SEED, emphasized the importance of the competition: "Jessup is more than a competition; it's our support for the next generation of lawyers. These students have demonstrated extraordinary discipline, analytical skill, and ethical commitment. By supporting Jessup, we are investing in the future of justice in Iraq – in lawyers who will uphold rights, strengthen institutions, and advance the rule of law."
The competition was hosted at the Kurdistan Bar Association and saw participation from 21 independent judges, including 11 international legal experts. This underscores the competition's global standards and the growing international engagement in Iraq's legal education ecosystem.
This victory not only highlights the academic excellence of AUIB but also signifies a positive step towards strengthening the rule of law and legal education in Iraq.