The Faculty of Legal, Economic, and Social Sciences at the University of Cadi Ayyad achieved a remarkable victory in the second national virtual trial competition focused on financial crimes, held last Saturday in Marrakech. This prestigious event was organized by the Research Group in Criminal Policy and Social Dynamics and showcased a fierce competition, particularly in the final match against the University of Mohamed I in Oujda.
This triumph highlights the exceptional competence of the students from the Faculty of Legal, Economic, and Social Sciences at the University of Cadi Ayyad in the realm of legal advocacy and the scientific formulation of legal arguments. The team from Marrakech, consisting of students Mahjoub Zdwa and Zakaria Abu Idrar, represented the prosecution during the final match and demonstrated outstanding scientific and practical abilities in legal advocacy and judicial analysis. They exhibited a high level of professionalism in preparing their pleadings, analyzing facts, and presenting legal arguments before the judging panel.
The final event unfolded in a highly competitive atmosphere, and the jury announced that Mahjoub Zdwa was awarded the title of Best Advocate for his exceptional performance, confidence, and professional construction of legal arguments, scoring 736.5 points. Zakaria Abu Idrar followed closely in second place with 726.5 points, while Mohamed Amin Azkagh from the University of Mohamed I secured the third position with 704 points. The fourth place went to student Hassna Al-Adouni, who scored 702.25 points, also from the same university.
The judging panel, composed of judges and lawyers, evaluated the participating teams based on their adherence to time, advocacy methodology, linguistic and communicative standards, ethical guidelines, and their ability to engage with the jury’s questions and respond to opposing counsel.
The victorious team members expressed their joy and pride in this achievement, which adds to the academic record of the University of Cadi Ayyad and serves as a point of pride in the history of the Faculty of Legal, Economic, and Social Sciences.
Latifa Kbich, a professor and the general coordinator of the competition, as well as the coach of the winning team, emphasized that this victory represents an additional motivation to continue enhancing the university's status and to strengthen the traditions of academic excellence among its students and faculty members.
She explained that this national scientific event has become an academic rendezvous for legal knowledge in advocacy practice and promotes values of diligence, integrity, and fair scientific competition among law students in Morocco.
Saadia Majidi, another higher education professor and the general coordinator of the national virtual trial competition, reiterated that this achievement further affirms the growing influence of the Faculty of Law and the University of Cadi Ayyad as a vibrant academic space that combines rigorous scientific training with openness to both national and international environments.
Majidi, who coordinates the Master’s program in Criminal Policy and Digital Transformation at the faculty, noted that the virtual trial initiative has been a pioneering pedagogical choice within the Faculty of Legal, Economic, and Social Sciences since the beginning of the millennium. This initiative draws inspiration from various comparative educational experiences and aligns with international directives advocating for the support of training centers and legal services within law schools.
She added that the goal of this advocacy approach and initiative is to train generations capable of advocating for their rights responsibly and ethically, urging that this competition stage calls for institutionalizing this experience and establishing it as an annual scientific gathering throughout the kingdom under the banner of "The Art of Advocacy."
This scientific event, which saw participation from law students representing ten universities across Morocco, was organized in partnership with the Marrakech Bar Association, the International Observatory for Criminal Policy and Crime Analysis, and several professional and human rights organizations. The event aimed to refine students' skills in judicial simulation through the preparation of legal memos and oral pleadings, enhancing their abilities in legal analysis and persuasion while respecting judicial techniques.
The virtual case addressed in this round focused on the management of local public affairs and associated financial and administrative discrepancies, within a criminal simulation framework based on legal documents and oversight reports, emphasizing financial crimes and distinguishing between administrative errors and criminal acts related to the protection of public funds and guarantees of a fair trial.
This achievement extends the distinguished path of success accumulated by the Faculty of Legal, Economic, and Social Sciences in Marrakech, which continues to excel academically and scientifically, as evidenced by its students' remarkable performances in various national and international legal competitions. This accolade reflects the ongoing efforts by the University of Cadi Ayyad to enhance the quality of legal training and to strengthen practical skills among students, especially in the fields of judicial simulation and advocacy.
As reported by anwarpress.com.
