Jessup Competitors Guide Videos: Part 3

White & Case Jessup Competition Resources

Road map - Respondent

Respondent oralists should specifically cite to Applicant's arguments when presenting the arguments and setting up their road map.

Read your opponent's memorial

In most Jessup Competitions, each team will receive their opponent's memorials before the oral rounds begin. It is important to read these memorials to learn your opponent's style and substance. Sometimes opponent memorials also reveal a line of argument or a source that your team has not yet discovered. Oralists may refer to their opponent's memorial in oral argument.

Rebuttal

A good rebuttal contains a few short arguments which are directly responsive to specific points raised by the Respondent. A rebuttal may not introduce arguments that are outside the scope of the Respondent's main pleading.

Respondent clarifies facts or law

The Respondents should always pay attention to the Applicant's arguments. If the Applicant's arguments are incorrect, the Respondent should dispute or clarify the facts or law and explain why the Respondent's version is correct.

Surrebuttal

A good surrebuttal contains a few short arguments which are directly responsive to specific points raised by Applicant during rebuttal. The surrebuttal may not raise points outside the scope of rebuttal.

Related links

• Go back to the Jessup Competitors Guide
• View all Jessup Competition Resources