Day of Crisis event
About the Day of Crisis Competition
Competition 21-22 April 2017 (Welcome reception on 20 April)
The Dickson Poon School of Law, King's College London
You have 24 hours. Can you solve an international crisis?
Over the course of 24 hours, student teams will face a series of major international crises. Competing teams must represent governments, international organisations, businesses or non-governmental organisations, in dealing with a variety of legal issues quickly, accurately and diplomatically. The crisis evolves as the 24 hours unfold, with new information and questions arising. Teams may be requested to: provide a legal opinion, advise a client (State, company, person); draft documents (press release, note verbale, Security Council Resolution etc.); negotiate on behalf of a client or elaborate diplomatic or judicial strategies. This 24-hour non-stop international law and diplomacy competition challenges students’ knowledge of public international law, and their skills in teamwork, drafting, negotiation and working under pressure.
The Day of Crisis competition was started by Professor Jean-Marc Thouvenin at Université Paris Nanterre X in 2012. International law firm Simmons & Simmons have been active sponsors since its inception. This year, for the first time the competition will be held in London, hosted at the Dickson Poon School of Law by Dr Philippa Webb (King’s) and Dr Kirsten Roberts Lyer (Central European University), with teams from around the world. Simmons & Simmons London Office sponsor the event and support the prizes.
Members of the winning team will be offered paid summer vacation scheme places in Simmons & Simmons London (19 - 30 June 2017 or 03 - 14 July 2017), subject to proof of right to work in the UK.
This year’s Day of Crisis topics will include:
- Law of the Sea
- Law of Armed Conflict
- Rule of Law
- International Human Rights Law
Registration and list of participants
Participation is by invitation only. Invited Universities will have received detailed registration information from the organisers. For any questions, please email us at DayofCrisis2017@gmail.com
Information for participants
Timing and venue:
The competition will take place at the Dickson Poon School of Law, London, in historic Somerset House.
On Thursday, 20 April 2017 at 6pm, a welcome reception will be held in Gray’s Inn, in the heart of Legal London, for all participants, organisers, and members of the jury. Teams will also have a chance to register and receive their welcome packs.
Teams must arrive at the Dickson Poon School of Law at 9:30am on Friday 21 April. The competition will begin at 10am sharp. All teams must be in place and ready to start working!
Each team will have access to an office in which they will work, as well as wifi. Refreshments will be provided on-site.
Teams will make a final ‘United Nations Security Council’ presentation on Saturday, 22 April at 10am in the Great Hall of King’s College London.
A closing reception, and the awarding of prizes will be held at 12 noon.
Guidelines:
Detailed Guidelines will be uploaded in February 2017.
Accommodation:
The organisers are unfortunately unable to cover the costs of teams’ accommodation.
We strongly recommend booking early, as London hotels fill up fast. Teams will need accommodation for the night of 20 April and may wish to also have a room booked for the night of 21 April (although teams will be working through the night for the competition).
The below hotels are near the Law School. See also the following link for additional suggestions and useful information: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums/depts/philosophy/events/kclunc/accommodation.aspx
Strand Palace Hotel
Strand, WC2R 0JJ
tel. 020 7836 8080
fax. 020 7257 9402
www.strandpalacehotel.co.uk
The Wellington
Waterloo
www.fullershotels.com/rte.asp?id=317
Bedford Hotel
Holborn
www.imperialhotels.co.uk/bedford
Travelodge Covent Garden
www.travelodge.co.uk
Express at Holiday Inn
103-109 Southwark Street
tel. 020 7401 2525
www.ichotelsgroup.com
The Royal Hotel
Russell Square
tel. 0207 636 8401
St Margarets
Bedford Place, Russell Square, WC1B 5GL
tel. 0207 636 4277
About the organisers
Dr Philippa Webb (King’s) and Dr Kirsten Roberts Lyer (Central European University) have been involved in the Day of Crisis Competition since 2014, coaching the winning teams in 2014 and 2015. In addition to their academic experience in international law, they have experience working as legal advisers in international organisations and international courts and tribunals.
The Jury
- Mr Steven Hill, NATO Legal Adviser and Director of the Office of Legal Affairs (Chair of the Jury)
- Mr Etienne Kowalski, Partner, Simmons & Simmons Paris Office
- Ms Juliet Reingold, Partner, Simmons & Simmons London Office
- Dr Kirsten Roberts Lyer, Associate Professor at Central European University, Co-convenor of the 2017 Day of Crisis Competition
- Professor Jean-Marc Thouvenin, Université Paris Nanterre, founder of the Day of Crisis Competition
- Ms Michelle Valchero, National Security Team, FCO Legal Directorate
- Mr Patrick Wallace, Partner, Simmons & Simmons London Office
- Dr Philippa Webb, Associate Professor at King’s College London, Co-convenor of the 2017 Day of Crisis Competition
Contact us
Directions to the venue
Strand Campus map: Click on image for larger view
Travel directions to the Strand Campus
Grey's Inn map (for the reception): Click on image for larger view
Social media
We will be posting updates during the event using #DayofCrisis across Twitter and Instagram. It would be great if competing teams could share their posts with us too.
- Twitter: @KCL_law
- Instagram: KCL_law