VI Edition of TNNLU’s National Med – Arb Competition, 2024 [23rd — 25th February 2024]

About National Med-Arb Competition 2024

Tamil Nadu National Law University stands at the forefront of legal education in India, hosting the unique National Med-Arb Competition, a pioneering initiative in the country’s academic landscape. TNNLU has carved a distinctive niche by being the first law university to introduce and organize such an innovative event.

The competition introduces a novel two-step dispute resolution process, seamlessly incorporating mediation and arbitration. Participants initially engage in mediation to resolve disputes amicably. Unresolved issues automatically transition to arbitration, where an arbitrator delivers a binding decision, ensuring a comprehensive resolution. An exceptional feature of the competition is the evaluation of arbitral award writing, making TNNLU the first university in India to emphasize this critical skill. This innovative element aligns with TNNLU’s broader mission of providing students with a well-rounded and practical legal education that extends beyond conventional boundaries.

The National Med-Arb Competition serves as a dynamic platform for law students nationwide to showcase proficiency in both mediation and arbitration. Over the past five years, the competition has provided students with a rich and enriching experience, allowing them to refine skills and deepen their understanding of dispute resolution mechanisms outside the traditional courtroom setting. In the previous editions, the themes of the NMAC have varied from medical negligence, insurance, corporate and contractual dispute.

With anticipation for spirited participation from 20 distinguished law schools across the nation, this year’s competition is poised to continue its tradition of excellence, fostering an environment where students engage with the intricacies of mediation, arbitration, and the craft of arbitral awards. TNNLU remains dedicated to shaping the legal professionals of tomorrow through innovative educational initiatives.

In pursuance of its goal of conditioning law students to efficiently resolve disputes, the Tamil Nadu National Law University through its Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee (ADRC) cordially invites undergraduate law students from across the country to participate in its VI Edition of TNNLU’s National Med-Arb Competition, 2024 to be held offline from February 23rd to 25th, 2024.

Structure of the Competition

The competition is built upon the Med-Arb Model of dispute resolution. This competition consists of two separate rounds of Mediation and Arbitration. The negotiating team reprising the role of Client- Counsel in the Mediation Rounds will become the Counsels in the Arbitration Rounds. The participant reprising the role of a Mediator in the Mediation rounds reprises the role of an Arbitrator in the Arbitration Rounds. After the completion of each prelim comprising of one mediation round and one arbitration round, the participant(s) reprising the role of Mediator/Arbitrator shall draft an Arbitral Award for the rounds.

All the participants will be judged by a separate panel of judges in the two Preliminary Rounds for Mediation and Arbitration. The Arbitral Award shall also be evaluated. The Competition will consist of 3 rounds viz. Prelims, Semi Finals and Finals spread over a span of three days.

Important Dates:

Registration Process:

1. Provisional Registration by interested universities must be done by way of filling of the Google Form, on or before 11:59 PM IST on 20th December 2023.

2. Find the form here: https://forms.gle/wz1pEzwbRVnhDL88A

3. For the Selection Process, the Organizing Committee, will shortlist a total of 20 Teams out of all the Applicant Teams that have successfully completed the Application by the abovementioned deadline.

4. The Organizing Committee shall shortlist the teams based on the credentials mentioned in the Provisional Registration Form. The decision of the Organizing Committee shall be final. The names of the Selected Teams will be communicated to them through email on 1st January 2024.

5. The Selected Teams shall pay a registration fee of Rs. 7,500/- (non-refundable) inclusive of food, refreshments, and accommodation.

6. The deadline for payment and final registration is 15th January 2024.

7. NOTE: In the event of a selected Team forfeiting its participation, the Organising Committee may, entirely within its discretionary power, replace the said Selected Team and offer participation to any other Applicant Team which has successfully completed its application.

Contact us:

Clarifications shall be sent to nmac@tnnlu.ac.in

The subject line should be “Clarifications: Problems or Rules”.

For any queries, feel free to drop us an email at nmac@tnnlu.ac.in or contact the following members of the ADRC, TNNLU.

Faculty In-charge(s):

Ms. Mrinmoyee Mukherjee, Assistant Professor of Law at m.mukerjee@tnnlu.ac.in

Mr. Vasishtan P, Assistant Professor of Law at vasishtan@tnnlu.ac.in

Student Coordinator(s):

Shrutakeerti Eshwar (Convenor): +91 97913 40963

Ramsha Hashmi: + +91 62906 00618

Pranav R: +91 95001 86002

To know more click on VI TNNLU NMAC Brochure and VI TNNLU NMAC Rulebook