University of Texas walks away with first prize in the first national arbitration competition for law students

The winning team, left to right: Andrew Cook, Sarah Munson, Portia Culver, Casey Kaplan, and team coach Professor John Fleming.

Twenty teams from ABA-approved law schools competed in the inaugural Arbitration Competition National Finals, held in St. Paul, Minn., Nov. 18-20. The goal of the competition, which was sponsored by the ABA Law Student Division, the National Arbitration Forum and William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, was to promote greater knowledge of arbitration among law students.

Participating students prepared and presented an arbitration case, including opening statements, witness examinations, exhibit introduction, evidentiary presentations and summations, in order to learn how to think, act and advocate representing a client in an arbitration situation. Students experienced what it is really like to be a professional, competent and ethical advocate. The event for the 2005 competition focused on a commercial dispute between two businesses.

A team from the University of Texas School of Law took the championship. Team members included Andrew Cook, Portia Bettis Culver, Casey Kaplan and Sarah Munson. They were coached by Adjunct Professor John Fleming, deputy director of the law school's Center for Public Policy Dispute Resolution.

Next year's competition will be Nov. 17-19 in Austin on the campus of the University of Texas Law School. The problem posed for 2006 involves an insurance coverage dispute resulting from a disaster. More information, including how to enter the competition, is available here. All members of the ABA Law Student Division are eligible to compete.

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