November 13, 2007

Mitchell students advance to nationals in arbitration and negotiation competitions

William Mitchell College of Law student teams will advance to nationals at both the Arbitration Competition and the Negotiation Competition, continuing a strong tradition of success in regional competitions. In addition, Mitchell students earned top honors in the first Regional Native American Student Association Moot Court Competition.

Team places first in Negotiation Regional Competition
Mitchell students Chris Jensen and Timothy J. Henkel placed first in the regional Negotiation Competition Nov. 10-11 on the Mitchell campus. They will compete in the National Negotiation Competition in Los Angeles in February 2008. In addition, Mitchell students Kelly Kubacki and Kerry Jorgensen placed seventh out of 16 teams. The Mitchell teams were coached by Mitchell Adjunct Professor Mark Vavreck.

The American Bar Association’s (ABA) Law Student Division sponsors the Negotiation Competition to promote greater interest among law students in legal negotiation and provides a means for them to practice and improve their negotiating skills. The competition simulates legal negotiations in which law students, acting as lawyers, negotiate a series of legal problems. The simulations consist of a common set of facts known by all participants and confidential information known only to the participants representing a particular side. All of the simulations deal with the same general topic, but the negotiation situation varies with each round and level of the competition. This year’s topic focuses on family law.

Team places second in Midwest Regional Arbitration Competition
Mitchell students Marc Laurent, Kirsi Poupore, Matthew Sims, and Timothy Ward placed second in the Midwest Regional Arbitration Competition at Michigan State University College of Law in East Lansing Nov. 9-10. They will advance to the national competition in St. Petersburg, Florida, in January 2008. Students were coached by Mitchell Professor Christine Ver Ploeg and Adjunct Professor Dawn Van Tassel.

The Arbitration Competition, co-sponsored by the ABA Law Student Division and the National Arbitration Forum, simulates a realistic arbitration hearing. Competitors prepare and present an arbitration case and are involved in opening statements, witness examinations, exhibit introductions, evidentiary presentations, and summations. This year’s competition explores the topic of employment law.

Team places first in new Regional Native American Moot Court Competition
In addition, Mitchell students competed in first annual Regional Native American Law Student Association Moot Court Competition last month at the University of South Dakota School of Law. Mitchell students Jamie Ford and Eric Lochen placed first out of three teams. The case centered on the Indian Child Welfare Act and the proper venue to adjudicate a case. The Mitchell students advanced to the national competition in Arizona in February 2008, but have decided not to compete.