Regulations - Human rights competition

Art 1: The competition is open to all lawyers registered with a bar, irrespective of their nationality, or age.

Art 2: All the candidates must justify their registration with a bar.

Art 3: Candidates must write a speech for the defence in French or English relating to a genuine, individual case of human rights' violation, taken from recent current affairs and proof of which must be provided and will be strictly required (internet, newspaper etc.).

Art 4: The objective of the competition is to make a 12-minute speech for the defence, in front of a jury and a public. Speaking over the time limit would be unfavorable.

Art 5: The registration for the competition must include the following items:

1. Outline of the pleading (one page maximum)
2. Three-minute video (an extract from the pleading)
3. Justification of the registration with a bar
4. Proof that the subject of the pleading is a genuine and individual case

Art 6:  Thursday 5 November 2020: closing date for submitting pleadings to the Mémorial de Caen museum.

Art 7: Process for sending the items:

1. The video of the pleading must be sent via WeTransfer
2. The outline of the pleading must be a text document attached to an e-mail
3. The proof of the registration with a bar must be attached to the same e-mail
4. The elements of proof evidencing that the pleading is in relation to a real case may be sent as electronic files or Internet links
   Those 4 items must be sent to: avocats@memorial-caen.fr

Art 8: Early December 2020: selection of 10 finalist lawyers. This selection will be made by a committee made up of representatives of the Bar of Caen, the City of Caen and the Mémorial. 10 pleadings will be selected for the final. The finalists will be told of the results of this selection over the phone or by email.

Art 9: Lawyers selected for the final shall undertake (where applicable) to set about obtaining a visa as soon as their selection has been announced.

Art 10: The 10 finalists commit to send the full text of their pleading (text file) to: avocats@memorial-caen.fr

The file must be sent before Friday 11 December 2020.

Art 11: Pleadings written in English will be translated into French. Translation is provided by professional translators. The translation cost will be borne by the Mémorial.

Art 12: Sunday 21 March 2021: final of the competition at the Mémorial de Caen. The 10 lawyers selected shall be invited to plead in public in front of a jury made up of experts in defending human rights.

Art 13: The lawyers shall go on stage to plead their case. The order in which they go on stage will be drawn at random before the competition.

Art 14: Finalists shall have no more than 12 minutes to plead their case; should they speak for longer, they may incur a sanction from the jury (barred from receiving a prize).

Art 15: The ten finalists selected can plead either in French or English. A translation into French will be provided to the jury and the public.

Art 16: The candidates shall be judged on the subject matter (individual and real case), soundness of their arguments, strength of conviction, their oratorical skill and keeping to the time limit.

Art 17: Lawyers are asked to appear in court dress or the clothing in use in their bar. Any other piece of clothing or accessory are strictly forbidden.

Art 18: After deliberation by the jury and the public's vote, a prize-giving ceremony will end the day.

Art 19: The Mémorial de Caen museum shall see to organising and paying for the finalists' travel and accommodation expenses (transport, meals and 3 nights in a hotel in Caen for the finalists). All other expenses, including visa costs, airport taxes, insurance and additional hotel nights, shall be borne by the finalists.

Art 20: The candidates shall see to organising and paying for the travel and accommodation expenses of any accompanying guests.

Art 21: By participating in this event, candidates agree that photos and videos may be taken during their presentation and during the entire event. The pictures may be used by the press, on social media or by the Mémorial de Caen Museum. They also agree that their text may be used in whole or in part for the promotion of the competition.

Art 22: The selected speeches will be published and available on the day of the final.

Art 23: Two prizes are awarded by the jury

The Memorial and city of Caen award: € 8 000
Offered by the Mémorial and the city of Caen.

Bar award: € 4 000
Offered by the National Council of Bars (Conseil National des Barreaux), the Conference of Presidents of the Bar (Conférence des Bâtonniers), Caen Bar and Paris Bar.

Art 24: One prize is awarded after the public vote

Public award: € 4 000
Offered by the National Council of Bars (Conseil National des Barreaux), the Conference of Presidents of the Bar (Conférence des Bâtonniers), Caen Bar and Paris Bar.

Art 25: In the event of major bad weather or transport strike preventing half or more of the candidates from attending or strikes, the Mémorial de Caen museum is entitled to cancel the finale.

Art 26: According to the data protection act of 6 January 1978, the candidates have a right of access and rectify their personal data.