In an increasingly interconnected legal landscape, the resolution of disputes demands more than an understanding of substantive law. It calls for the ability to listen, communicate, negotiate, identify underlying interests, and develop solutions that are both practical and sustainable. It is within this evolving landscape that Samanvay International Mediation Competition seeks to create a space where aspiring legal professionals can experience mediation not merely as a concept studied in classrooms, but as a dynamic process of dispute resolution.
The Alternative Dispute Resolution Cell (ADRC), Himachal Pradesh National Law University, Shimla, is set to host the Fourth Edition of the Samanvay International Mediation Competition, 2026. Building upon the success of its preceding editions, the competition continues ADRC’s commitment to promoting mediation as an effective dispute resolution mechanism while encouraging excellence, innovation, and practical engagement among aspiring legal professionals.
Beyond the Classroom: Experiencing Mediation in Practice
Established in 2020, ADRC, HPNLU, Shimla, was conceived with the objective of promoting alternative dispute resolution mechanisms and enhancing the professional legal skills of law students. The Cell seeks to bridge the gap between theoretical legal education and the practical application of dispute resolution by providing students with opportunities to engage with mediation, arbitration, negotiation, and conciliation through academic and experiential initiatives.
Samanvay represents an extension of this vision.
The competition is designed as an immersive and intellectually stimulating experience in which participants engage with realistic and contemporary disputes. Rather than approaching disputes solely through their legal dimensions, participants are encouraged to understand the interests underlying a conflict and develop creative, holistic, and interest-based approaches to settlement.
This emphasis reflects the very nature of effective mediation. A successful mediator or negotiator must be able to move beyond positions, recognise competing interests, communicate effectively, and work towards solutions that address the concerns of the parties. Through Samanvay, participants are therefore challenged to bring together analytical ability, interpersonal skills, strategic thinking, and problem-solving.
A Platform for International Engagement
One of the defining features of Samanvay is its international character. The competition brings together aspiring legal professionals and provides an environment for interaction across institutions and diverse perspectives. Its preceding editions witnessed participation and appreciation from premier law schools as well as distinguished mediators, practitioners, and assessors from across the globe. This response has encouraged ADRC to expand and further develop the competition with its fourth edition.
The international dimension of the competition is particularly significant in the context of mediation. Dispute resolution increasingly operates across jurisdictions, cultures, and professional environments. Engaging with participants from different institutions and backgrounds allows students to encounter diverse approaches to negotiation and conflict resolution while developing the adaptability required of modern legal professionals.
A Hybrid Competition, Designed for Meaningful Engagement
The Fourth Samanvay International Mediation Competition will be conducted in a hybrid format, combining the accessibility of virtual participation with the experiential value of an on-campus advanced round.
The Training Session, Workshop, Inaugural Ceremony, Preliminary Rounds, and Octa-Final Round will be conducted virtually. The Quarter-Final, Semi-Final, and Final Rounds, along with the Valedictory Ceremony, are scheduled to take place at the campus of Himachal Pradesh National Law University, Shimla, subject to prevailing weather conditions.
The competition comprises six competitive rounds: two Preliminary Rounds, an Octa-Final Round, a Quarter-Final Round, a Semi-Final Round, and a Final Round. Following successive evaluations, the leading Negotiating Pairs and Mediators progress through the rounds, culminating in the final stage where the winners in each category are determined on the basis of their overall performance.
The structure is designed to test participants progressively, rewarding consistency while giving teams the opportunity to develop their approach as they advance through the competition.
Developing the Mediator, Negotiator and Problem-Solver
Each participating team consists of three participants assuming the roles of Mediator, Client, and Counsel. These roles remain unchanged throughout the competition, allowing participants to develop a deeper understanding of their respective responsibilities and approaches.
The competition’s problem sets draw upon dynamic and evolving areas of law and present multifaceted disputes in which the interests of clients extend beyond purely commercial considerations. Participants are expected to approach these disputes holistically and demonstrate the ability to identify interests, communicate effectively, negotiate strategically, and formulate creative settlement possibilities.
Complementing the competitive rounds are training and learning opportunities led by professionals and experts in the field. These sessions are intended to further participants’ negotiation, communication, and problem-solving abilities while deepening their understanding of mediation as a professional practice.
Knowledge, Research and the Future of Dispute Resolution
The competition also reflects ADRC’s broader commitment to research, scholarship, and innovation in dispute resolution. By bringing together practical competition, professional engagement, and academic learning, Samanvay seeks to contribute to a stronger culture of mediation among the next generation of legal professionals.
The Fourth Edition is further strengthened by its association with SCC Online as the exclusive Knowledge Partner. With its long-standing contribution to legal research and its extensive digital legal research resources, SCC Online brings an important knowledge and research dimension to the competition.
This association complements the competition’s emphasis on informed advocacy and well-rounded legal problem-solving, reinforcing the importance of research and legal knowledge alongside negotiation and interpersonal skills.
From Competition to Community
Samanvay is ultimately intended to be more than a competition. Its structure creates opportunities for participants to learn from experienced professionals, interact with peers from different institutions, develop practical dispute-resolution skills, and build lasting professional connections.
The 2026 edition will also feature a networking event during the advanced rounds, providing participants with an opportunity to engage beyond the competitive setting.
For those advancing to the offline rounds, the experience extends beyond the competition itself. The opportunity to visit HPNLU’s campus in Shimla, participate in advanced rounds, attend training sessions, and interact with fellow participants and professionals adds an experiential dimension to the competition.
Looking Ahead
The Fourth Samanvay International Mediation Competition represents another step in ADRC’s continuing effort to place practical dispute resolution at the centre of legal education. By combining competition with training, research, professional engagement, and international interaction, Samanvay seeks to nurture legal professionals who understand that resolving disputes requires not only knowledge of the law, but also the ability to understand people and their interests.
At its heart, Samanvay is about samanvay – coordination, understanding, and the search for common ground. It is an invitation to look at dispute resolution not simply as a contest between opposing positions, but as an opportunity to identify pathways towards meaningful resolution.
As the fourth edition unfolds in 2026, Samanvay looks forward to bringing together another cohort of aspiring mediators, negotiators, and legal professionals to learn, compete, collaborate, and contribute to the evolving practice of mediation.
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