Negotiations Competition

Negotiations skills are beneficial to attorneys in several ways. Whether drawing up a contract, developing a plea agreement, or avoiding a costly trial, good negotiations skills can work to the advantage of any lawyer. These skills are vital to an effective and prospering practice of law.

This time spent planning for this competition is minimal. Because of this fact, the competition is usually well populated which leads to heavier competition between opposing teams to advance.

For the purposes of this competition, two counselors comprise one team. Competitors are free to choose their own teammate, but if a competitor is unable to find a teammate, the Board may pair up two single competitors upon their request. The competition proceeds as follows:

1. Competitors sign up as a team in the Board office on the designated days.
2. Competitors attend a mandatory meeting given by the Negotiations committee.
3. Competitors are given a common set of facts (one to two pages) to go by the day of the competition as well as a confidential set of information (one page) known only to the competitors representing one client.
4. The information given to the negotiators will provide all relevant facts as well as any legal background that may be necessary in understanding the problem. Outside research is NOT necessary.
5. Each negotiation takes place in 40 minutes where teams may break to confer with one another.
6. At the end of the round, each team has a ten minute self analysis outside the presence of the opposing team. The judge may question the team's choices during this time.
7. Judges are present during both the negotiation and self-analysis sections and judge the success of the competitors based on teamwork, flexibility, planning, outcome, and ethics, reflected in the scoring sheet that follows.