JKU Law Students “Cry Wolf”
 

The "Moot Administrative Court" during Summer Semester of 2019 gave JKU law students insight into real-world legal and courtroom practices.

Under the direction of Hon. Prof. Dr. Johannes Fischer (President of the State Administrative Court of Upper Austria) and Vice-Rector Prof. Janko and Prof. Leeb (Institute for Constitutional Law and Political Sciences, JKU), the annual simulated administrative court proceeding begins with lodging a complaint, introducing the relevant authority's submission, and adding any other parties to the Administrative Court’s decision. Teams of up to three students assume the party role(s) of prosecuting authorities and the judge's senate.

This year's Moot Court focused on wolves. This particular topic is currently in the media today and involved a complaint against an official decision approving averting measures against wolves.

In addition to preparing written pleadings, the oral hearing is always a course highlight. As in past semesters, this year’s students had a unique opportunity to show off and demonstrate their negotiating skills in a real-world setting at the Regional Administrative Court of Upper Austria. Court experts were also available to assist students and the students were able to argue the legal case based on proven facts regarding the wolf’s nature. Following the hearing, the university instructors and a judge from the Upper Austrian Regional Administrative Court provided the students with valuable feedback.

The Administrative Court team has until the beginning of August to render a decision confirming the approval of deterrent measures against wolves.

The students have the option to include their experience in their Diploma degree thesis which would require processing a "legal opinion" related to the Moot Court.