"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."
— Martin Luther King Jr.
Welcome to the International Justice Olympiad
Through a case study analysis and an online debate, the International Justice Olympiad challenges students to articulate their understanding of legal systems, ethics, and the difference between right and wrong in the eyes of the law.
Participants will:
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Evaluate legal principles
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Consider ethical dilemmas
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Articulate the interplay between justice and the law
See Guidelines and Rules for more information.
Respond to prompts about issues like:
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Human rights in conflict zones
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Artificial intelligence and legal responsibility
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International criminal tribunals
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Immigration law and refugee protection
See Resources for more information.
The International Justice Olympiad is entirely online and is the platform for students around the world to understand and interpret justice as a legal professional. Case study evaluations are submitted via a Typeform link, and the debate takes place online as well.
How does the Olympiad work?
Mission
The International Justice Olympiad is designed to bring the intricacies and nuance of legal interplay to high school students who wish to seek an education in law and justice. We champion the right for every student to test themselves and compete against the future generation of attorneys, arbitrators, litigators, and judges.
By hosting a rigorous case study competition and debate, we present students with the opportunity to exercise their passions in the field of law, proving to universities their academic ability and potential. As a result, finalitst are awarded in the form of letters of recommendation, international recognition, and college consulting credit.
Objectives
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To promote legal education at the secondary school level and increase the interest of law and justice.
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To encourage the development of legal reasoning, civic debate, and justice-related topics among pre-university students worldwide.
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To illuminate to students the purpose and meaning of justice in the law. In a world where the concept of justice is debated, a reasonable understanding of the law is as crucial as ever.
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To promote reflection on the role of justice in science, art, governance, and life.
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To witness the events and principles of the world through the lens of ethics and justice especially with concepts such as equality, governance, and human rights.
Structure
Step 2
Regional Round
August 2025
Participants are grouped into five global regions. On the launch date, case study topics (e.g., human rights violations, IP theft, corruption) are announced. Students select a case and submit their written evaluation. The top performers from each region advance.
Get prepared with our Resources page.
Step 3
International Round
September 2025
Regional finalists compete in a parliamentary style debate. Students receive a briefing of the debate seven days before the event with three possible debate topics, assigned clients (e.g., a person, nation, or institution) and the position to advocate for.
Learn more on our Guidelines and Rules page.
Step 4
Finalists Announced
September 2025
After the debate, the top three international finalists are announced. Winners will be featured on our website and awarded for their exceptional achievement, gaining global recognition.
Method
The Olympiad is divided into two rounds: Regional and International. The regional round is a case study evaluation, and the international round is a global debate for regional finalists.
Regional Round:
A case study evaluation where students are tasked with understanding and articulating the manifestation of justice in the eyes of the law.
Participants submit a full evaluation and assessment of a legal case and the arguments made. See Guidelines and Rules for more details.
International Round:
Finalists from each region advance to an online justice debate, responding to a legal and judicial scenario and debating with other finalists.
Participants are assigned a person, organization, nation, or international legal institution to represent in a debate similar to an online courtroom.
General Timeline
See our Timeline page for more a more detailed schedule.
June
Registration
July
Olympiad Begins
August
Finalists Announced
Why You Should Participate
Expert Evaluation
Submissions and debates are evaluated by law professors, legal practitioners, and judges.
Recognition & Prizes
Finalists receive international recognition, recommendation letters, college consulting credit, and have their work published.
Stand Out for Admissions
Demonstrate scholarly abilities such as critical thinking and moral reasoning to universities.
Register for the Olympiad
Dr. Helena Meier-Baumgartner
PhD, International Law – Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva
LLM, Human Rights and Humanitarian Law – University of Geneva
MLaw, Swiss Law – University of Zurich
BA, Political Science – University of Lausanne, Switzerland
Dr. Helena Meier-Baumgartner is a Swiss legal scholar whose work focuses on international humanitarian law, human rights, and comparative constitutional systems. She has held academic and advisory roles with the United Nations Human Rights Council, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. Dr. Meier-Baumgartner currently holds the Chair of International Public Law at the University of Bern and is a visiting lecturer at the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights.
Judges Panel
Testimonials
"The Olympiad helped me understand how legal systems shape societies. I learned to argue for justice, not just win a debate."
Anika Youssef
"I debated issues I thought were too complex for students. It made me realize that clarity is more powerful than complexity."
Felix Zhang
"The essay round made me think about justice beyond the courtroom. I finally saw the human side of law."
Maria Fernandez