Thank you for your interest in volunteering for the 28th Inter-American Human Rights Moot Court Competition. The Competition could not exist without the valued contributions of individuals like you. In return, the Competition promises to give you unequaled exposure to the Inter-American Human Rights system, valuable experience in event planning, and international education, and exposure to leading legal professionals, academics and human rights activists from around the world.
Who Can Volunteer
Volunteer opportunities are open to anyone interested in assisting in the competition and willing to commit their time to its successful organization, including high school, university or graduate students, working professionals, and retirees. As this is a tri-lingual competition (English, Spanish and Portuguese), individuals with experience in at least two of the Competition languages are highly desirable.
Volunteer Opportunities
The bulk of the volunteer opportunities for the 2023 Competition will occur leading up to and during the week of the Competition. Depending on your skills and interests, you can donate your time to the Competition in the following ways:
Bailiffs: Students and professionals interested in receiving a front-row seat to the Competition’s oral rounds are invited to volunteer as bailiffs. Bailiffs are responsible for preparing scoresheets, setting up their assigned room, communicating any problems with the Competition staff, keeping time during the oral rounds, enforcing the rules, overseeing all documents, and returning completed scoresheets to Competition staff. Serving as a bailiff is a wonderful opportunity to network with the Competition judges, as well as learn the ins and outs of the moot court. The Technical Committee will select as many as 20 bailiffs through a competitive application process until all positions are filled. We ask that bailiffs attend a training session and oversee at least three oral rounds per day during the course of the Competition, arrive at least 30 minutes early for those rounds, and adhere to all written instructions provided by the Competition Coordinator. Interested parties may apply online by the date established in the Official Calendar; however once all positions have been filled the application process will close. Students who attend universities that are participating in the competition CANNOT participate as bailiffs.
Organizational Staff: A variety of opportunities are available to students looking to enhance their portfolio in event planning or international education. Volunteers must be available the week of the Competition for training and Competition organization and administration. Volunteers will assist in a variety of Competition tasks, including score-keeping and recording, the preparation and dissemination of certificates, managing bailiffs, answering questions, relaying information, leading field trips to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, and overseeing the set-up and tear-down of the various Competition events. Interested parties must send their CV/resume and a letter of interested by email, iamoot@wcl.american.edu., to the Competition Coordinator by the date established in the Official Calendar.
Benefits of Volunteering
Volunteers will find themselves as part of a premier network of human rights activists and legal professionals from around the world. They will gain precious exposure to cutting-edge dialogues in human rights, as well as the systems that guarantee their protection. Moreover, volunteers will be able to put on their resume that they assisted with one of the most important and well-respected competitions in the Western Hemisphere.
Additionally, all volunteers will receive a certificate of appreciation for their contribution to the Competition, and are eligible for a partial scholarship to the Program of Advanced Studies on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, immediately following the Competition.