Released in Phnom Penh, June 2, 2010
A team from Royal University of Law and Economics won the fourth annual Mock Trial Competition, which tests the legal and advocacy skills of talented Cambodian law students. The three-day event, which concluded with an awards ceremony on Friday, May 28, was sponsored by the United States through USAID and hosted by the Royal University of Law and Economics.
“I am so happy to have won this competition, it’s my dream,” said Kim Maryan, a member of the winning team. “I have learned a lot of new skills and techniques especially advocacy and case analysis that will help me in law school and in my future career.”
The competition featured nine teams of five students and was presided over by a mixed panel of international and Cambodian legal professionals. The contest is designed to improve the effectiveness of the Cambodian legal system by strengthening the skills of students who will soon embark on careers as lawyers and judges.
Through several rounds of competition, the teams were presented with difficult legal cases and had to organize evidence around a theory and persuasively argue their case to the panel of judges. The team from the Royal University of Law and Economics won the silver medal.
In addition to the winners, teams from eight Cambodian law schools participated in the competition. The law schools represented were University of Cambodia, Pannasastra University of Cambodia, Norton University, Royal University of Law and Economics, Cambodia Mekong University, Build Bright University, National University of Management and the Cambodian University for Specialties.
USAID, together with its implementing partners East West Management Institute, The Asia Foundation and the American Bar Association, has provided approximately $5 million in assistance this year to support legal education strengthen Cambodia’s legal system by training judges and lawyers, and provide the public with greater access to information.
