VALPARAISO | A team of students from the Valparaiso University School of Law earned third place at the Susan J. Ferrell International Human Rights Moot Court Competition, held Jan. 25 to 27 in Miami.

The annual competition revolves around a simulated court proceeding that involves an issue of international human rights law and policy.

Each team of law students prepares a written pleading and presents oral arguments before a simulated International Court of Justice.

Members of Valparaiso's team were second-year law students Chip Owens and Emily Byrum of Valparaiso; J.P. Lagunas of Munster; Asrar Ahmed of Skokie, Ill.; Hellen Vouthounis of Stamford, Conn.; and Hema Muthiah of Nova Scotia. Third-year law student Brian Hindman of Huntsville, Ala., coached the team.

Owens also was honored as the fifth best oralist at the competition.

Ezra Hurwitz, captain of the law school's International Moot Court team, said students spent more than three months preparing a written memorial that focused on human rights concerns between two neighboring countries, then additional time preparing for the oral round of the competition.

"The team spent a great deal of time researching the issue and the international law implications," Hurwitz said. "The experience of digging deeply into the various issues involved with the case is very beneficial for law students interested in international law and human rights."

Last year, a team of three Valparaiso law students won overall best written submission at the World Trade Organization Moot Court Competition in Geneva, Switzerland.

--The Times