Supporting National Opportunities for Students to Put ADR Theory Into Practice

All News

Over Halloween weekend, the Dispute Resolution Program at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law supported two major virtual events to provide opportunities for law students across the country to put their knowledge of negotiation and mediation skills and theory into practice.

Interschool Mediation Simulation

On October 29, Center for Dispute Resolution (C-DRUM) Co-Director and Clinical Instructor Professor Toby Guerin teamed up with Professor Debra Berman of South Texas College of Law to host an interschool mediation simulation. Thirty-five students from seven law schools, including twelve from Professor Guerin’s Mediation Theory and Practice Seminar, participated in the simultaneous mediation simulation. The cross-school simulation offered a unique role play opportunity for law students, connecting them with students from other law schools learning similar skills. Students served as co-mediators, attorneys, and clients in a probate legal dispute. Faculty members from the participating schools observed mediations and facilitated feedback.

Immediately following the experience, the students expressed appreciation for the opportunity to apply their mediation knowledge in a different context. The simulation offered students the chance to practice skills and experience new perspectives. “I learned how to act as an advocate in mediation, which is not something our school focuses on,” wrote one student. Another student emphasized how the simulation reinforced “the importance of reflecting and getting to all the issues before moving into solutions.” Overall, the students appreciated the learning experience and the chance to network informally with peers from other schools. As one student summed things up, “I loved getting to interact with students from other schools!”

Professors Guerin and Berman organized the interschool mediation simulation as part of their leadership roles on the Legal Education and Dispute Resolution Committee of the ABA Dispute Resolution Section. They will analyze student input from the Fall 2021 cross-school mediation simulation pilot and hope to provide similar virtual mediation learning experiences for law students in the future.

Maryland ADR Team Hosts ABA Negotiation Competition, Places in Regional Finals

Over Halloween weekend, the Maryland Carey Law ADR Team hosted 22 teams for the American Bar Association Law Student Division’s Regional Negotiation Competition. The competition, which took place virtually, featured 44 students representing nine law schools. All teams were judged on their performance in two primary rounds of competition, with the top four teams advancing to the final round the next day.

The Maryland Carey Law ADR Team was represented by competitors Nikita Vozenilek and Rebekah Paradis, Japera Parker and Frances Amaefuna, and Natalie Gibson and Delia Bennett and supported by coaches Barry Gogel, Josh Chazen '14, and Thérian Lee '21. The Maryland Carey Law teams represented by Parker and Amaefuna, and Vozenilek and Paradis advanced to the regional finals, finishing in third and fourth place respectively, narrowly bested by two teams from the University of Oklahoma College of Law. Competitors and coaches commented on the professional and helpful role of the ADR Team in hosting the competition.

A huge thank you and kudos for the successful competition goes to Zoe Rydzewski, ADR Team competitions chair, all of the students, coaches, and judges who supported the competition, and ADR Team Advisor Toby Guerin.