Wednesday 17 February 2010
Nottingham Law School Triumphs in International Mooting Competition
Philip, Joy and Alice with their award
Two talented young legal brains, one from the LPC course and one on the BVC, have put Nottingham Law School, Nottingham Trent University on the global map by winning the prestigious 5th ICC International Commercial Mediation Competition.
Students Alice Eldridge (LPC) and Philip Godfrey (BVC) beat competitors from 43 other universities from around the world to claim 1st Prize in the competition held in Paris over the course of 6th-10th February 2010.
Participating universities were permitted to field teams comprising two to four people and a coach/mentor for the competition which takes place over five days. Nottingham Law School fielded a two-person team accompanied by their coach Joy Davies, a principal lecturer at the law school.
It meant that Alice and Philip faced a gruelling test to prepare written representation plans and oral advocacy against the clock in the final stages of the competition. Their performance in four mediations in the preliminary round made sure they were one of just eight universities to go through to the quarter finals; four teams then competed at the semi-final stage with just two going head-to-head in the final. They beat The National University of Singapore in the quarter-final, Fordham University (USA) in the semi-final and The University of New South Wales in the Grand Final.
ICC created the international competition to train student lawyers to meet the dispute resolution needs of today's cross-cultural market. The competition gives students an opportunity to test their problem-solving skills in a simulated international commercial mediation context. Its importance is underscored by the 85 dispute resolution practitioners with a diverse range of expertise, including lawyers and non-lawyer mediators, who give up their time to participate as volunteer competition officials.
Nottingham Law School also entered the 1st ICC competition in 2006 when it was the only UK law school to participate. In 2010 there were only two UK teams, although there was a strong representation from North America and Australasia.
Nottingham's successful duo was chosen to represent the school in Paris after participating in an internal Commercial Mediation Competition held during the autumn term.
Coach Joy Davies, who specialises in dispute resolution training, said: "It was very intense. A great deal had to be achieved in a very short time and with very little sleep. I am so proud of them. We are grateful for laptops and for our helpful hotel with printing facilities available late into the night!"
The ICC says: "Combining competition, sharing of best practices, learning and networking, this one-of-a-kind event gives participants a unique opportunity to explore cultural differences in international commercial mediation."
