White & Case was the global partner and official sponsor of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition (the Jessup), run by the International Law Students Association (ILSA). The Jessup is the world’s largest moot court competition, with thousands of law students from around the world competing in a fictional dispute between two countries for a chance to win the White & Case Jessup Cup. Competitors were required to present oral and written arguments on a hypothetical international law case before a simulated International Court of Justice.

White & Case’s involvement with the Jessup is driven by the passion of the Firm’s many Jessup alumni who believe that the Competition is one of the best learning opportunities for law students. Offering not only a means to enhance the sense of community among the world’s lawyers, the Competition also provides an invaluable tool to develop legal writing and oral advocacy skills, teamwork and substantive knowledge of international law. ILSA has created a platform for future world leaders to meet first as friends at the Jessup.

The Jessup 2021 problem concerns a global pandemic, and the responses of States with respect to the outbreak. In addition to the global pandemic, there are a number of elements including the jurisdiction of the Court, a travel ban, a claim for political asylum by an alleged rogue scientist, and State responsibility for a suspicious aircraft explosion.

These different elements are visually brought to life using a number of bacteria and viruses cultivating in petri dishes using a bright, engaging color palette.

The poster design marries elements and what they represent. It created excitement and brought the fictional case to life and encouraged law students around the globe to enter the most prestigious moot court competition in the world.