Q: How is the Helsinki Information Law Moot responding to the COVID-19 pandemic?
A: In recent years, the competition successfully took place digitally. We are still waiting to see how things develop before releasing final information about the 2024 competition, but we hope that it may be possible to return to in-person hearings this year.

Q: What is this?
A: The Helsinki Information Law Moot is a moot court (mock trial) competition aimed at helping law students to delve deeper into the world of information law. We hold an annual competition where students have to solve a legal problem, first entering written submissions and then competing in oral rounds.

Q: Why is it called “information law”
A: The term “information law” is used to cover the overlap between different fields and areas which involve information or data. The moot covers a range of topics and legal fields, so it felt like the best fit for us.

Q: Who can take part?
A: The competition is open to any undergraduate or master’s level students. They need to enter in teams, usually with each team representing a University. You can find out more on our Information for Applicants page.

Q: Why should I take part?
A: Why wouldn’t you want to? Information law is a fast-developing and fascinating area, bringing together lots of different disciplines and fields of law. Our moot can help you to dig deep into the topic, get some experience and develop your passions. It looks quite good on a C.V., too.

Q: Can I get credits at my University for taking part?
A: That’s between you and your University, but send us a message on our contact page if you need anything from us to help verify your participation etc.

Q: Why do you skip straight from the 2018 moot to the 2020 moot? What happened to 2019?
A: After the 2018 moot, we decided to change our timetable so that the oral rounds would take place at the start of the new year, rather than the end of the old year. Since we number our competitions based on the year when the oral rounds take place, 2019 sadly got “skipped” in the naming regime.

Q: Who will get invited to the oral rounds?
A: Invitations to the oral rounds are sent out based on the quality of the written submission. In particular, we want to ensure that the teams who compete are the ones who have demonstrated a familiarity with the relevant law and the facts of the case.

Q: Are the oral rounds always held in Helsinki?
A: Normally, yes. It is a wonderful city with a thriving data protection community and, in our opinion, the perfect place to hold the competition! In recent years, we held the competition online through “distance mooting” due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and we will see how things develop for 2024.