A team of student mediators from Kent Law School was voted the best international team at the 15th Annual International Law School Mediation Tournament held in Chicago.
Rachel Bale, Meshaal Choudhary, Rachel Easton, and Hannah Loosley were presented with the H Case Ellis Spirit of Mediation Award for the accolade of being voted the best international team by more than 400 fellow competitors.
The trophy, one of four the team received at an awards dinner held on 11 March, bears a quotation by Former US Chief Justice Warren E Burger that says the true peacemaker is a “problem solver, harmoniser and peacemaker, the healer – not promoter – of conflict.”
The team also secured fourth place in the Top Ten Advocate Client Team awards category after competing in five rounds involving more than 50 teams from countries across the world. Both Meshaal and Rachel Easton were awarded trophies for coming 6th in the Outstanding Individual Advocate/Client Pair category.
Kent Law School Lecturer in Alternative Dispute Resolution Janie Clement-Walker, who accompanied the team to the US, was thrilled with their success. She said: ‘The University of Kent is now firmly established in the international field of mediation. Outstanding performances by all four students contributed to their success and the four awards they received are testament to all the hard work they put into preparing for the tournament.’
The four-day competition, hosted by Loyola University Chicago is sponsored annually by the International Academy of Dispute Resolution (INADR). Competitors are required to play the role of mediator, advocate and client in each round with respected mediators and lawyers who advocate at mediations serving as judges for the tournament. Teams from Kent have competed at an international level in Chicago in 2014 and in London in 2015.
For further details, see Kent Law School’s News webpages.