University of Richmond law students win American Bar Association's National Mediation Competition
April 23, 2009
A team of students from the University of Richmond School of Law won the American Bar Association's National Mediation Competition in New York City April 16.
The Richmond duo of Paul Falabella and Faith Alejandro, both second-year students, qualified for the final round in New York after winning the regional competition at North Carolina Central University against 12 law schools.
Among 10 teams qualifying for nationals, the Richmond contingent advanced to the final four along with teams from Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, Arizona State University and Washington University School of Law (St. Louis). Richmond beat Washington University in the final.
In the competition, law student teams role-play as attorneys and clients to model appropriate preparation for and representation of a client in mediation. Students are judged on presentation, teamwork and how well they represent the interests of the client.
The win marks the second national title this year for a law school team. Richmond students finished first among 69 competitors in the ABA's Student Trial Advocacy Competition.