Overview
Four law students from the Universidad de las Américas Puebla (UDLAP) will represent Mexico in the final stage of the prestigious ASADIP MOOT international competition, taking place in August in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The team, consisting of Erika Ximena Casas Morales, Ivana Patricia May Pérez, Juan Manuel Rivera Vélez, and María Fernanda Aceves Díaz, will face teams from Brazil, Chile, and Colombia in a specialized competition focusing on international private law. The event is organized by the American Association for International Private Law (ASADIP).
The UDLAP Team and Their Journey
Under the guidance of Dr. Álvaro García Martínez, a professor from the Department of Law at UDLAP, the team advanced to the final round after excelling in the written phase, placing them among the top four contestants on the continent.
Challenges and Academic Support
Juan Manuel Rivera Vélez described the challenges they faced in applying classroom knowledge to a professional project. “The biggest challenge was translating all that we learned into a high-stakes project. We had already practiced exercises in class, but this was taking it to a higher level. The pressure of delivering a quality memorial during exam season forced us to go above and beyond, working with discipline and commitment,” he explained.
Erika Ximena Casas Morales emphasized the importance of UDLAP’s comprehensive legal education in their success. “UDLAP offers thorough courses in international private law, arbitration, and human rights. Moreover, the constant support from professors created a network of assistance. We knew we could rely on them, even if we had doubts about other areas of law,” she said.
Intensive Preparation Process
María Fernanda Aceves Díaz detailed the two-month preparation process, which included extensive research, receiving a challenging role assignment, and limited time to prepare the memorial. “At first, we researched without knowing our roles; then we were assigned what we considered the most complex task. We only had a few weeks to prepare the memorial. Our professors have always taught us from a practical standpoint, which gave us a clear advantage in applying what we learned in a real competition setting,” she explained.
Pride in Representation
Ivana Patricia May Pérez shared the significance of their participation. “This has been months of preparation, challenges, and teamwork alongside our professor. The fact that we are representing Mexico and UDLAP in an international competition fills us with pride, not just for ourselves but also for our families and the entire university community,” she concluded.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the ASADIP MOOT competition? The ASADIP MOOT competition is an international event organized by the American Association for International Private Law (ASADIP) that focuses on specialized international private law, specifically moot court.
- Who are the UDLAP students participating? The four law students representing Mexico are Erika Ximena Casas Morales, Ivana Patricia May Pérez, Juan Manuel Rivera Vélez, and María Fernanda Aceves Díaz.
- What subjects will the competition cover? The competition will focus on international private law, arbitration, and human rights.
- What challenges did the team face? The team faced the challenge of applying classroom knowledge to a high-stakes professional project, working with discipline and commitment under exam pressure.
- How did UDLAP’s academic support contribute to their success? UDLAP’s comprehensive legal education, constant professor support, and practical teaching approach provided the team with a clear advantage in the competition.