YPHSL 20th Anniversary International Moots Fund
The SMU Yong Pung How School of Law (YPHSL) Ian Taylor International Moots Programme has helped place YPHSL on the world stage and shaped generations of students into advocates, leaders, and changemakers.
What began in 2011 with a class of just a dozen students participating in four competitions has grown into the world's largest international mooting programme, with around 120 students participating annually across 25 major moots.
More than a programme, mooting has become a defining part of the YPHSL experience. It embodies our commitment to Amplifying Transformation — developing graduates who combine legal excellence with resilience, judgement, teamwork, and leadership.
For many students, mooting is where transformation happens: where confidence is built, lifelong friendships are formed, and future careers begin.
A Legacy of Global Excellence
YPHSL believes in an inclusive meritocracy where every student has the opportunity to compete and grow. Today, SMU has developed the world's largest moot programme and is consistently recognised among the top law schools globally for international mooting excellence.
As of April 2026, World-class achievements of our mooters include:
- 4 Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court World Championship Finals, including the 2025 World Championship
- 7 Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot World Championship Finals (Vis and Vis East combined), including 3 World Championships in Hong Kong — making SMU the tournament leader
- 6 International Criminal Court (ICC) World Championships — making SMU the tournament leader
- 8 Price Media Law Moot World Championship Finals, including 4 World Championships — making SMU the tournament leader
- 4 Frankfurt Investment Arbitration Moot Court World Championship Finals, including 3 World Championships — making SMU the tournament leader
- 2024 Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court World Championship
- 4 Red Cross International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Moot Championship Finals, including 2 Championships
- 4 Ian Fletcher International Insolvency Law Moot World Championship Finals, including 3 World Championships — making SMU the tournament leader
Opening Doors for Every Aspiring Mooter
Behind every achievement stands generations of talented student mooters, supported by alumni, coaches and supporters whose mentorship, guidance and generosity have helped shape the programme's success.
Yet participation comes with significant costs — travel, accommodation, registration fees, and competition expenses can create barriers for students.
At YPHSL, we believe opportunity should never depend on financial means. The ethos of our mooting programme has always been clear: anyone with the passion and commitment to moot should have the opportunity to do so, regardless of grades, prior experience, or financial circumstances.
Your support can help ensure that talent and determination — rather than circumstance — determine who gets the chance to step onto the global stage. Because the future of mooting excellence is not built by one generation alone. It is carried forward — together.
Learn more about our programme here:
This video was filmed by our Moots Director Prof Chen Siyuan
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