Mastering Critical Legal Reading Skills: A Practical Training with Mr. Bakhtiar

Aug.2, 2026 by Ar.Mu

The Moot Court Management team at ALPA Colleg recently conducted a training session on effective approaches to reading and analyzing the Jessup Compromis, led by Mr. Bakhtiar. The session helped participants develop a more systematic and strategic approach to one of the most important stages of Jessup preparation.

Mr. Bakhtiar is a prominent lawyer with extensive experience in the Jessup Moot Court Competition. Over the years, he has participated in Jessup from several perspectives, including as a competitor, coach, and judge. This broad experience allowed him to provide participants with practical insights into how successful teams approach the Compromis and transform a complex factual record into clear and persuasive legal arguments.

The Jessup Compromis is the foundation of the entire competition. It presents the fictional dispute, the relevant facts, the positions of the parties, and the legal questions that students must address before the International Court of Justice. Because the document often contains a large amount of information, students must learn to read it carefully and strategically rather than treating every fact as equally important.

During the session, participants learned how to review the Compromis systematically, identify the central facts and legal issues, and understand the relationship between the factual record and the questions presented before the Court. Mr. Bakhtiar explained how teams can separate legally significant facts from background information and distracting details. He also emphasized the importance of identifying facts that support each party, as well as facts that may create weaknesses or require careful explanation.

The training encouraged participants to examine the Compromis from both the applicant and respondent perspectives. This approach helps students avoid becoming attached too early to one interpretation of the case and allows them to anticipate the arguments and responses of the opposing side. Participants also discussed how a careful reading of the Compromis can shape later stages of preparation, including legal research, memorial writing, case theory, and oral advocacy.

The session was highly interactive, allowing participants to raise questions, discuss possible interpretations, and work through the challenges that often arise when analyzing a complicated Jessup problem. Through practical guidance and examples drawn from his experience, Mr. Bakhtiar demonstrated that strong legal analysis begins long before students start writing their memorials. It begins with disciplined reading, close attention to detail, and a clear understanding of how facts and law work together.

This training provided participants with valuable tools for strengthening their preparation for the Jessup Competition. It also reflected ALPA’s continuing commitment to connecting Afghan law students with experienced legal practitioners and creating opportunities for practical legal education, professional mentorship, and international engagement.