Organized for the first time in 1977 and taking place in The Hague, the competition has a nearly three decades success story in attracting students from all over Europe. Approximately 40 teams take part in it every year. In a simulated proceeding in front of the International Court of Justice, the judicial organ of the United Nations to settle interstate disputes, students join in amiable competition to advocate their case, both in a written memorial and oral presentations.

In 1996, the University of Basel participated for the first time at the Telders International Law Moot Court Competition. It is thanks to Eva Kornicker, who worked as a research assistant at the Univerity's law faculty under Professor Luzius Wildhaber, that the first encounter with the Telders competition took place in 1996. Since then, students from the University of Basel have volunteered regularly to get involved into an intense time of scholarship to hone their advocacy skills, establish contacts and experience the unique and authentic character of international court proceedings. By now, it is a time-honoured tradition of the University to sponsor a team (comprising of four people and a coach) heading for The Hague's Peace Palace international finals each year.

From the pool of participants that grew over the years, many of which now are in legal practice or in the academics, the Society was established in 2001. It enjoys independance of the law faculty and its administration. Motivated to keep up contacts among former and current participants and to encourage further student participation with the competition, the Society builds a small but initiative alumni body for scholars interested in the world of international law alive in Basel and its surroundings.

Moreover, with the establishment of the Society, it formaly administers funds donated by sponsors in support of the competition in Basel. The funds are used to pay the annual costs of participation (i.e. supervision of the team, travel, research, etc.) at the Telders International Law Moot Court for students from the Basel University's law faculty. The costs have risen constantly due to higher dues for the final round in The Hague and the additional costs imposed by national preselections.

With this website, we encourage and invite students to participate at one of the many international competitions that take place in the world. They provide for a unique enrichment of student's education and should serve as a gateway for anyone interested in international law and its related fields.

Finally, many international moot court competitions owe their existence to the generous support of private and public donours. We would like to thank them for their ongoing support and hope that they will sustain their committment to a cause we indeed believe is worth the investment in every respect.