SOUTHEAST ASIAN REGIONAL ROUNDS
The University of the Philippines Law Center, through its Institute for International Legal Studies (UP-IILS), invites law schools from all over Southeast Asia to participate in the Southeast Asian Regional Rounds (“SEARR”) of the 30th Stetson International Environmental Law Moot Court Competition (“Stetson”). The SEARR will be held on January 15-17, 2026 at the University of the Philippines, College of Law, Diliman, Quezon City Philippines.
The Stetson International Environmental Moot Court Competition, which focuses on important global environmental challenges, is the most prestigious international environmental law moot court competition in the world. Since 1996, law students from universities all over the globe have participated in the Stetson Moot Court Competition, considering it an invaluable opportunity to meet and compete with representatives from universities around the world.
For more information on Stetson, please refer to their website.
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
Interested teams may fill up the form until November 10, 2025 (5:00 PM, PST). The deadline for submission of memorials is on November 17, 2025 (5:00 PM, EST).
Questions may also be sent via email to searr_law.upd@up.edu.ph.
Registration Fee & Waiver
- There will be a registration fee of Php 10, 000.00 (Philippine Pesos) to participate in the SEARR. Payment details will be provided after registration.
- The registration fee may be waived for meritorious reasons. However, should a school choose to send more than one team to the Competition, only one team’s registration fee shall be waived.
- To apply for a waiver of the registration fee, a letter of request addressed to the Regional Administrator, Assoc. Prof. Rommel J. Casis, must be submitted to the SEARR email (searr_law.upd@up.edu.ph) after registration. The letter should state the reasons for requesting the waiver and must be endorsed by the Dean of the school’s College of Law on or before November 10, 2025.
- Failure to participate in the Competition after approval of a waiver request shall bar the team’s school from requesting future waivers for SEARR.
QUALIFICATIONS
In order to qualify for the Stetson International Finals, participants must compete in their respective regional competitions. Southeast Asian countries, in particular, are required to participate in the Southeast Asian Regional Round (SEARR) of the Stetson International Environmental Moot Court Competition before advancing to the International Finals.
INFORMATION
SEARR RULES
ACCOMODATIONS
SEARR RULES
The 2026 SEARR Rules may be accessed through link. The Southeast Asian Regional Rounds (“SEARR”) rules shall be applied to the SEARR. This is without prejudice to the rules of the 30th Stetson International Environmental Moot Court Competition. All previous SEARR rules inconsistent herewith, are hereby repealed.
ACCOMODATIONS
Participants flying in Diliman Quezon City may refer to the suggested hotel list for possible accommodations during the competition.
Participants shall be responsible for booking their own accommodations and transportation during the entire duration of the competition.
SEARR THROUGH THE YEARS
THE INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL LEGAL STUDIES HOSTS THE 2024 SOUTHEAST ASIAN REGIONAL ROUNDS OF THE STETSON INTERNATIONAL MOOT COURT COMPETITION
The Institute of International Legal Studies of the University of the Philippines Law Center hosted the Southeast Asian Regional Rounds (SEARR) of the 29th Stetson International Environmental Law Moot Court Competition (Stetson) from January 16-18, 2025 at the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Law, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines.
After months of preparation, the UP Institute of International Legal Studies successfully held the largest SEARR in history, with a record-breaking number of 30 registered teams vying for the championship. The teams hailed from various countries across Southeast Asia, including Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia and the Philippines. To accommodate the high number of matches, over 79 judges were selected composed of legal experts, educators, and veteran moot court competitors. Apart from determining the winner of each match, the judges also provided insights to help the teams further develop their research, refine their arguments, and the manner in which they present them.
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