The Praktika (training seminars)

During winter term, three Praktika (training seminars) held by Gerd Oberleitner and Gregor Fischer-Lessiak are offered for the team members chosen to represent the University of Graz in the Europe-wide competition (Courses 229.220-222). These serve to support the students’ preparation for the participation in the ‘Helga Pedersen Moot Court Competition’.

The first part of the term serves to set the academic baseline for dealing with a case in front of the European Court of Human Rights. In the second part, students develop their written submissions dealing with the case hypothetically brought before the ECtHR. It is the participants’ task to identify the legal questions arising from the case, to search for respective literature and case law, to apply these to the case and to develop their arguments. In doing so, the coaches do not interfere with the elaboration of the substantive content. However, they regularly give the students feedback on the structure, coherence and persuasiveness of their arguments so they can improve their pleadings and generally develop their legal writing skills.

In the second half of the semester and in the summer term, the focus lies on the oral argumentation. On the basis of their written submissions the students create the oral pleadings in which they have to convincingly present the main points of their arguments. Besides the support in drafting of the pleadings a regular ‘trial training’ is emphasized by the coaches. Additionally, intensive rhetoric training with experts is offered.