While the rest of the George Washington community hunkered down in advance of massive snow storms, law students Jocelyn Bond, a part-time 4L, and Sarah Knutson, a 3L, were busy competing in - and winning - the 2nd Annual International Moot Court Competition at Gujarat National Law University in Gujarat, India. Over the course of four days of competition, from February 3 to February 7, the two battled a field of teams from thirty-eight Indian and six international law schools, according to promotional materials for the competition and an article in The Times of India.

In the final round, according to LegallyIndia.com, Knutson and Bond faced off against a team from Symbiosis Law School, located in Pune, India. Knutson said that, in addition to winning the team competition, she was named the best speaker overall and Bond the second-best. The winning team's award included a scholarship to a five-week course at the World Trade Institute's summer academy on world trade regulation in Basel, Switzerland.

Bond said that the competition "was an exceptional opportunity for GW to strengthen its ties with the legal community in India." She said the team "particularly appreciated the chance to learn from the different perspectives present at the competition. While the competition was challenging, we were pleased to be able to represent GW well."

The seven judges for the final round - who Knutson called "extremely impressive" - included Christian Haberli, senior consultant at the World Trade Institute, and Oshima Sataro, a member of the World Trade Organization appellant body. Justice Cyriac Joseph of the Indian Supreme Court delivered a valedictory address at the conclusion of the competition, according to the Indian Express newspaper.

Dean of the Law School Fredrick Lawrence described himself as "extremely proud" of the winning team. "This is further evidence that our students can compete on the highest levels with literally worldwide competition," he said. "I am especially pleased that we participated in the GNLU competition, part of our wide range of contacts with India."

Professors Steve Charnovitz and Susan Karamanian, who advised the team, echoed Dean Lawrence's praise. "I am delighted that the team won," Charnovitz said. "They prepared diligently for the competition. Our law school has a strong transnational and international curriculum, and this helps our students in international competitions."

Karamanian described the win as "a remarkable effort by the students that reflects so well on them." She said, "Jocelyn and Sarah took the lead in all aspects of their preparation. They prepared the memorials on their own," adding "we are immensely proud of their accomplishment."

According to Knutson, the competition problem involved a free trade agreement, mirroring the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, between two fictional countries - one a developed nation, the other a developing country, "Azania," rich in natural resources. The issue involved reconciling the trade agreement with issues of climate change and international law. In the finals, Knutson and Bond represented "Eronda," the developed nation.

"My issue was under the GATT Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures," she said. "The question was whether the exemption of import duties for iron ore, when used in the production of exported steel, constituted a prohibited export subsidy."  Bond argued whether a carbon border tax was excusable under the general exceptions of Article 20 of the GATT.

Knutson said that she enjoyed the experience of traveling to India, despite the fact that the team "didn't have much time for sightseeing." She added that she hoped to attend the WTI's summer academy but had to work on the dates with her summer employer.

Senior Assistant Dean for Student Affairs David Johnson, who doubles as the Director of Advocacy Programs at GW Law - and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing and assisting the skills boards - said that Bond and Knutson's victory was representative of "the best of what GW Law has to offer." He used the team's success to encourage other law students to take full advantage of the opportunities uniquely available to them at GW.

If students are involved in a skills board, they should "pursue it," he said. "Apply to represent the school at an external competition. Work with your coach. Do more than the 1-credit minimum amount of work. Try to win."

Johnson pointed to recent successes by GW students in international skills competitions, including three victories. "Not many schools fund students to compete in international competitions, like we do through our boards," he said. Johnson also stressed that such high-profile accomplishments can help students reach their career goals. "Not only are these great opportunities in and of themselves," he said, "but in this economy they represent a chance to separate yourself."