COMPETITION RULES

Rule 1- Definitions

The following terms have the corresponding meanings:

1. “ADR” means Alternative Dispute Resolution.

2. “Caucus” refers to a discussion where each client is interviewed individually by a mediator

and it takes place during Consultation Period of a Mediation Session.

3. “Client” means a member of a team who will act as a party to a dispute that is the subject of
mediation.

4. “Competition” means the IV RMLNLU National Mediation Competition, 2018.

5. “Confidential Information” means the background factual information of the problem for the
exclusive use of the Clients and the Judges, but not the Mediators.

6. “Cross-Caucus” means a self-assessment session between the Judges and the Mediators.

7. “General Information” means the background factual information of the Problem for the use
by each Client, the Judges and the Mediators.

8. “Judge” means a person selected by the Organising Committee who evaluates and scores
students’ performance during a Mediation Session in accordance with the Judging Criteria.

9. “Judging Criteria” means the criteria set out in the Score Sheet with the judges.

10. “Mediator” refers to that member of a team who will engage himself in the mediation.

11. “Organising Committee” means The Legal Aid Committee of Dr. Ram ManoharLohiya
National Law University, Lucknow.

12. “Participant” refers to any person participating in this competition as client or mediator.

13. “Post Consultation” refers to the period after Consultation Period in a Mediation Session
where two mediators discuss between themselves the scope of legal work to be undertaken etc.
14. “Problem” refers to the set of facts provided by the Organising Committee to the
participants for the purpose of the Mediation Session.

15. “Timekeeper” means a person appointed by the Organising Committee to keep time during
a Mediation Session.

Rule -2 Language

The official and only language of the Competition is English.

Rule-3 Orientation

The Organising Committee shall organize an Orientation for all participants on 19th January
2018. In this session, participants will be trained in mediation by experts and clarifications shall
be made regarding judging criteria, format of the competition, timings and standards expected
in the competition.

This year, we shall be having a Workshop in collaboration with ‘Peace Keeping and Conflict
Resolution Team’ (PACT), to enrich the participants with the requisite mediation and
negotiation skills. This workshop shall be conducted by Tom Valenti, Claudia Winkler, Pascal
Comvalius, Catherine Davidson and Jonathan Rodrigues.

Rule-4 Release of Confidential Information

Confidential information to the clients shall be released 30 minutes before the start of each
session.

Rule- 5 Procedure of the Mediation Session

a. A Mediation Session will consist of two clients representing both sides of the dispute and
two mediators engaging in the mediation process. Every participant in a room will represent
different colleges and hence, no two members of the same team will be in the same Mediation
Session.

b. Each round will have a set of general information and confidential information for each side.
Both mediators are then required to facilitate an agreement suitable to the two clients who
would have received the same general information but different confidential information
c. The two mediators, being from two different teams, will act in co-ordination with each other
but conduct Caucus Sessions separately.

d. Regarding time for individual Caucus Sessions in Consultation Period-

Both mediators shall conduct a joint session with both the clients for the first few minutes of
the Consultation Period. The time management for this joint session shall be as the mediators
deem fit. This joint session shall in no circumstance exceed 15 minutes in the prelims and
quarter finals and 20 minutes in the semi-final and final rounds. After the joint session,
individual Caucus Sessions shall take place. In the prelims and quarter finals, each mediator
will get 5 minutes for such Caucus Session with each client. Such time will be 6 minutes in
the semi-final and final rounds.

e. The whole Mediation Session is a 3-step process- Consultation Period, Post Consultation
Period and a Cross Caucus.

1. Consultation Period- The Consultation Period comprises 5 stages:

 I stage: A joint interview session amongst the mediators (Mx& My) and the clients
(Cx&Cy) where a general discussion regarding the problem shall take place.

 II stage: ‘Caucus Session’ between Mx & Cx.

 III stage: ‘Caucus Session’ between Mx & Cy.

 IV stage: ‘Caucus Session’ between My & Cy.

 V stage: ‘Caucus Session’ between My & Cx.

2. Post Consultation- It will take place after the Consultation Period in two stages:

 I stage: Both mediators summarize the interview, discuss the outcome of their
respective Caucus Sessions, discuss the scope of the plausibility of a settlement,
indicate the legal work to be undertaken, etc. Clients shall not be present at this stage.

 II stage: Mediators shall discuss together with both the clients about their respective
standing on the issue and strive to make the clients arrive at a settlement.

3. Cross Caucus- After Post Consultation, Cross Caucus will take place where the Judges hold
a session with the two mediators and the clients. It will involve an analysis of each participant’s
performance in the Session and questions regarding the strategy adopted, degree of success in
mediation between the clients, understanding the clients, their position and interest and
balancing of their issues, etc.

Rule-6 Judges

a. In each Mediation Session, one or more experienced professional(s) will serve as Judge(s).

b. The Judge(s) will evaluate and score the performance of the participants according to the
Judging Criteria.

c. Every attempt will be made for the participants to face different Judge(s) in each round.

d. The Organising Committee will make every effort to ensure that the Judge(s) are independent
and impartial to the participants they are involved with.

Rule-7 Timekeeping

a. Responsibility of timekeeping rests with the Timekeepers during the Mediation Sessions.

b. The Organising Committee’s decision is final in this respect.

Rule-8 Exhibits and Props

a. During the Mediation Session each mediator can bring his/her own notes, books, files and
can, if need be, make their own notes on separate sheets of paper. Other props shall be
permissible with the prior permission of the Organising Committee.

b. No electronic device will be allowed.

Rule- 9 Judges’ Scoring

Following the Cross Caucus, the participants shall leave the room and the Judges will evaluate
the performance of each competing team in accordance with the instructions set out. The
timekeeper shall remain in the room with the Judges.

Rule- 10 Written Submissions

There shall be no written submission for any of the Mediation Sessions.

Rule- 11 Scores and Ranking to be provided to the participants

At the end of the Competition, the participants shall be intimated their scores and their rankings.

Rule- 12 Anonymity

The participants shall not, at any stage of the Competition, whether during a Mediation Session
or otherwise, disclose the name of their institution to the judges and shall only use their
assigned team codes. Non-compliance with this rule entails immediate disqualification from
the Competition.

Rule- 13 Scouting

Team members shall not be allowed to observe the Mediation Sessions of other teams unless
that team is already out of the later rounds of the Competition. Scouting is strictly prohibited
and any violation of this rule entails loss of points or even disqualification.

Rule- 14 Confidential Information

Judges and clients must keep the contents of the confidential information strictly secret from
mediators and may not directly or indirectly disclose any confidential information to any other
person. Clients may disclose their confidential information in the course of the Mediation
Session. Any violation of this rule shall result in immediate disqualification. The discretion of
the Organising Committee in this matter shall be final.

Rule- 15 Interpretation of the Problems

Every effort will be made to ensure that the problems are clear. While participants shall not
invent material new facts, the facts of the problems are subject to reasonable interpretation.
Whether a participant’s interpretation is reasonable is a matter entirely within the discretion of
the Judges. Participants may draw reasonable inferences from the facts provided.