Karimakhon Khabibullakhoja is a Level 5 student pursuing her Commercial Law degree. She was named one of the top 30 oralists in the world, ranking 25th out of more than 500 competitors during Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition 2025.

Her interest in argumentation, research, and presentation was first ignited during Level 4 mooting assessments that laid the groundwork for what would become a remarkable journey into the world of international moot court competitions.

My first involvement in mooting was not a moot court competition per se, but rather the mooting assessments we had in Level 4. Those assessments were definitely my favourite. In the process of preparation for assessment I have learned that it takes hours of research and work to strengthen even the basic arguments and great set of skill and knowledge to be able to deliver them to the bench effectively within a limited time given. These little but crucial moot experiences invoked my interest in the moot court competitions, like Jessup or Vis Moot.

After an introductory session on the Philip C. Jessup Competition, Karimakhon was inspired by the stories of previous participants. She saw Jessup not just as a competition but as a platform where future legal minds tackle pressing international issues. Eager to be part of something meaningful, she set her sights on the Jessup 2025 season.

Preparation for Jessup started long before the release of the case materials. Through Spring School workshops, summer study sessions, and intensive research, Karimakhon and her teammates built a solid foundation in Public International Law. Once the official Statement of Agreed Facts was released, the team worked hard, splitting tasks according to each member’s strengths, and balancing academic coursework with extensive moot court preparations.

Karimakhon emphasises that teamwork and discipline was important: ‘We really did effectively divide the responsibilities as after summer spent together studying, we knew each other’s strong sides well. Therefore, despite all of us being equally great at research and analytical skills, we helped to draft and structure the written submissions and fit within the word limit.’ Competing in Washington, D.C. at the Jessup International Rounds was both an honour and a heavy responsibility. Facing off against teams from over 100 jurisdictions, Karimakhon and her team brought pride to their university and country, advancing impressively into the Top 16 teams globally.

In an incredible personal achievement, Karimakhon was named one of the top 30 oralists in the world ranking 25th out of more than 500 competitors. ‘Definitely a surprise,’ she admits. ‘But considering all the work, time and effort put into preparations - a very deserved ranking as well. She also earned the highest oralist score across all teams from Central Asia in 2025.’

Karimakhon credits much of her success to the guidance and support from her coaches, Meyirbek Abdikadirov and Dilshodbek Orifjonov, her voice coach Farrukh Djalilov, and the encouragement from family and friends. ‘From Spring School to final rounds, their belief in us made a huge difference,’ she says.

The Jessup experience has reshaped Karimakhon’s career goals. Originally envisioning a future in office-based legal research, she now sees herself thriving in client advocacy, court representation, and negotiations. She also plans to continue academic research and contribute to the international law field through teaching and mentorship.

She encourages students to stay resilient through setbacks and see every challenge as a learning opportunity. ‘Preparation is not a straightforward path, it will always have its lows and highs, sometimes or more often some mistakes will be committed in actual rounds which may lower the spirits or make participants question whether it is all worth it, then it is important to remember that persistency is rewarding, and not always the lost round is a failure, but rather another interesting case to look, analyse and learn from. I hope that the next generation of Jessup, and other moot courts as Vis Moot, will set higher records glorifying our university and country.’