Kent law students Maria Azevedo and Zoe Salisbury are through to the final of the National Negotiation Competition after winning a regional heat in London.
Maria and Zoe took part in two negotiation scenarios at the International Dispute Resolution Centre in Fleet Street last month. They are one of 12 teams who will progress to the National Final to be held on Saturday 28 March at the University of Law in Manchester. Teams will participate in three new scenarios (including a three-way negotiation). Winners of the national competition will earn the right to compete in the International Competition, which is taking place at the University of Montana in the US.
The National Student Negotiation Competition is sponsored by CEDR (the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution) in collaboration with the University of Law. CEDR offer the winners of the regional finals a one-day negotiation skills training course, giving them even more tools to use as they compete in the final.
Maria and Zoe are both taking a module in Negotiation at Kent Law School, taught by Janie Clement-Walker. The module provides an introduction to the skills required to resolve legal disputes without recourse to litigation.
Zoe said: ‘We had a great time representing Kent Law School. It has been brilliant to work with Maria Azevedo and hone our negotiation skills and strategy. It has been an amazing opportunity to learn more about negotiation and ADR. A big thank you to Janie Clement-Walker for all her help and great teaching.’
In 2018, Kent Law School student negotiators Jade Levin and Summer Prior won the final of Lex Infinitum 2018 in Goa, an international dispute resolution competition. And, n 2016, Kent hosted the UK final of the National Student Negotiation Competition after law students Tomi Popoola and Sean Wells won the title of best student negotiators in the country in 2015.
Negotiation is one of three alternative dispute resolution options open to law students at Kent; the other two are Mediation and Client Interviewing. Students can also develop practical legal skills through participation in the work of Kent Law Clinic, and by taking extra-curricular modules in Mooting and Mock Trial Advocacy.