To give law students opportunities to develop professional skills and gain practical insight into court proceedings, lawyers’ litigation skills, judges’ adjudication duties, and court clerks’ professional work, National Economics University (NEU) developed a moot courtroom and officially launched it on the morning of March 20, 2025.

A view of the moot courtroom

Attending the launch ceremony were Prof. Dr. Do Thi Hai Ha, Rector of the College of Economics and Public Management; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Son, Vice Rector of the College of Economics and Public Management; Dr. Hoang Xuan Truong, Dean of the Faculty of Law; representatives of the leadership of colleges, departments, faculties, institutes, and centers; and faculty, staff, and students of the Faculty of Law.

In recent years, alongside the strong development of the socialist-oriented market economy, demand for high-quality human resources in the legal sector has continued to rise. To meet this demand, legal education must go beyond providing theoretical knowledge of the law and, more importantly, equip students with advanced professional practice skills.

The moot courtroom is an advanced training model widely adopted by leading law universities around the world. It provides a realistic simulation of a trial, with all participants in the proceedings, including the trial panel, representatives of the procuracy, defense lawyers, plaintiffs, defendants, and witnesses. Here, students will participate directly in hypothetical cases to practice litigation and legal reasoning skills, learn to handle complex legal situations, and develop the ability to respond flexibly to issues arising during trials.

Through these simulated trials, students will have opportunities to apply the theory learned in the classroom to professional practice and develop sharp critical thinking skills and effective communication skills in a professional litigation environment. These activities will also help students better understand the social responsibility of legal practitioners—those who always stand for justice and defend what is right.

Prof. Dr. Do Thi Hai Ha, Rector of the College of Economics and Public Management, speaks at the ceremony

Speaking at the ceremony, Prof. Dr. Do Thi Hai Ha, Rector of the College of Economics and Public Management, said that investment in the moot courtroom affirmed the University’s strong commitment to improving the quality of practical legal training in general and training in the International Trade Law program in particular. “We believe that, with modern facilities and the Faculty of Law’s lecturers who have extensive practical experience, the moot courtroom will fulfill its role to the fullest in improving the quality of training for the country’s high-quality legal workforce.”

Prof. Dr. Do Thi Hai Ha expressed her hope that students would make the most of this valuable opportunity to develop themselves into outstanding legal experts in the future.

Dr. Hoang Xuan Truong, Dean of the Faculty of Law, speaks at the ceremony

Also speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Hoang Xuan Truong, Dean of the Faculty of Law, said, “As international integration becomes increasingly deep and extensive, training a legal workforce well versed in international law is more urgent than ever. Recognizing this trend, our Faculty of Law has officially introduced a new degree program, ‘International Trade Law,’ starting this academic year. This highly topical program meets the growing demand for high-quality human resources to support the country’s international economic integration.

“International Trade Law is a field that demands a high level of ability to apply national and international legal provisions flexibly to resolve cross-border commercial disputes. Students in this program must not only master specialized knowledge of international business law but also develop sharp international litigation skills to protect the interests of Vietnamese businesses in the international arena.

“For this reason, today’s launch of the moot courtroom is all the more meaningful as it accompanies the introduction of the International Trade Law program. The moot courtroom will give International Trade Law students direct experience with hypothetical commercial disputes involving substantial international elements, such as disputes over international contracts for the sale of goods, international investment disputes, or international commercial arbitration. This will help them become familiar with multicultural working environments and improve their ability to handle complex legal situations in today’s context of globalization,” Dr. Hoang Xuan Truong emphasized.

Some images from the moot courtroom launch ceremony:

Article and photos: Department of Communications

This is an automated translation. If you notice any errors, please contact the Department of Communications, National Economics University at phongtruyenthong@neu.edu.vn.