Helwan University And USAID Celebrate First National Moot Court Winners

Representatives from Helwan University, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the American Bar Association (ABA) honored winners of a national Moot Court competition sponsored by ABA and USAID.  They also inaugurated Egypt’s first Environmental Law Clinic at an event that took place at Helwan University’s Law School yesterday. The activities fall under a USAID grant that promotes the development of legal education of young lawyers and law students in Egypt.

“USAID is extremely proud to support Egypt’s law students,” North said.  “Their energy, skill, and commitment to justice are impressive.”

Helwan law students Mohamed Yehya Fathi and Mohamed Hussein Abd el-Aziz won first place in the Moot Court oral advocacy competition held in Cairo at the National Center for Judicial Studies (NCJS) in April, 2012.  Fathi, who graduates this year, also won the prize for the best oral advocate.  About his experience with the Moot Court competition, Fathi stated, “I was delighted to have this experience. I feel that I have broken the barrier between theory and practice.”

Law Faculties at Ain Shams, Mansoura, and Benha Universities also sent teams to the national competition. Student preparation and training was conducted by faculty members from the participating universities with assistance from the ABA.

The Environmental Law Clinic informs the public about practical and legal ways to protect themselves from environmental degradation and methods of obtaining damages from polluting entities.  Students in the clinic are now able to practically explore the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws and policies affecting industry and other sources of pollution and toxicity.

ABA integrates extracurricular activities, such as Moot Court competitions and legal clinics into law faculty programs to better develop professional skills. More than 200 Helwan students applied to participate in the Moot Court or Clinic. Forty students and four professors were selected to work on the founding of the clinic and participate in its first year of activities.  The environmental clinic is expected to reconvene with new students in the next academic year.