MPL Live: How did you find this year's Jessup Moot Problem? How many months did you spend researching for this moot? How were the other teams? Which was your most challenging round?

Madhupreetha: The problem was very challenging with a couple of issues revolving around relatively emerging spheres of law and required a logical and innovative interpretation of factual matrix to the available law. We put in around four months of work. The other teams were most definitely well prepared, with good mastery of law and facts. The final round was the most gruelling and required us to switch between questions on law and our framework of arguments without compromising on coherency.

MPL: How many online databases did you use for mooting research? Which, according to you, is the best online legal database?

Madhupreetha: Westlaw, Lexisnexis, Maxplanck, Oxford reports and Oxford Scholarship online were some of the databases. To brand one database as best will be a difficult call. Each is unique in its own way. We felt that Westlaw is the abode for all articles, while Maxplanck is panacea for the entire law in a nutshell. And for the cases, nothing beats Oxford reports. It is the most thoughtful of ILSA to provide passwords and that gesture goes appreciated.

MPL: Have you planned your preparations for the Washington Finals? Do you think that being a non national law school team from among the four teams going to Washington this year, you may have any disadvantage in the world finals? Are you approaching successful ex-Jessupers for guidance or sponsorship? 

Madhupreetha: Preparations for Washington are underway. We definitely have to deal our oral arguments with a different strategy and we have started working on it. Hard work can definitely win over any stereotypical notions and I fail to see any disadvantage hailing from a non national law school. Team work coupled with all the facilities and moral support provided by our institution has got us a long way.

MPL: How is the mooting culture in college? Is it popular on campus and competitive? How are the Intra Selection rounds and the moot allocation done?

Madhupreetha: Every ILS student is passionate about mooting. In fact, passion would be an understatement. We have a very competitive intra college selection rounds - separate for municipal law and international law. We are given the option of forming teams and applying for various moots. The decision lies with our moot court in charge who chooses the team on the basis of performance based rank and previous experience. ILS teams are encouraged to tackle problems entirely by themselves and this independent work and knowledge gives us the requisite confidence and zest for scaling well in moots.

More interviews of BCI Oralist winners to follow. Please have a look at Madhupreetha’s perceptions on the standards of Surana judging at the Jessup Rounds.

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