SLAM - Sports Law Arbitration Moot

Why take part?

The Sports Law Arbitration Moot (SLAM) offers students the opportunity to experience an international moot court based on realistic disputes before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Participants draft written pleadings, prepare legal arguments and plead a fictional sports law case before experienced sports law practitioners and CAS arbitrators.

By taking part, you will:

• gain in-depth knowledge of international sports law and CAS procedures;
• strengthen your legal research and legal writing skills;
• develop oral advocacy and pleading techniques;
• receive coaching from experienced UGent supervisors;
• compete against teams from universities around the world;
• plead before leading sports law practitioners and CAS arbitrators.

About the competition

The Sports Law Arbitration Moot is organised by LawInSport in cooperation with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne.

The competition revolves around a fictional dispute inspired by real-life sports law issues, such as:

• doping;
• football transfers;
• integrity and disciplinary cases;
• other disputes regularly brought before CAS;

The competition follows the CAS Code of Sports-related Arbitration.

Competition format

The competition consists of two stages:

Written phase

Teams prepare written submissions for both the claimant and the respondent. These pleadings are assessed by lawyers and CAS arbitrators.

Oral phase

Every team participates in the oral rounds. The strongest teams progress through the regional rounds to the international finals. The Grand Final takes place at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Tentative Schedule 

• October – November: preparatory classes and exercises
• Beginning of December: distribution of the case
• Mid-February: deadline for written pleadings
• Mid-March: announcement of finalists
• End of March: final pleading rounds

Selection and preparation

Preparations begin during the first weeks of the academic year and include written assignments, pleading exercises and coaching sessions.

Students wishing to participate are invited to submit:

• a CV
• a motivation letter
• a short written comment on the selected case (maximum one page)

Shortlisted candidates are invited for an interview with the supervisors.

Contact and information

• Have a question? Contact an.vermeersch@ugent.be
• Visit the Sports Law Arbitration Moot website