{"id":382793,"date":"2026-04-30T12:00:51","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T06:30:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/?p=382793"},"modified":"2026-04-30T12:17:47","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T06:47:47","slug":"vmac-virtual-mediation-advocacy-competition-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/04\/30\/vmac-virtual-mediation-advocacy-competition-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Call for Participation | SettleWiseNow in association with IAMC Hyderabad announces Virtual Mediation Advocacy Competition (VMAC)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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About the Organisers<\/h3>\n

The Virtual Mediation Advocacy Competition (VMAC) is organised by SettleWiseNow in association with IAMC Hyderabad. The competition is supported by the Asian School of Cyber Laws (ASCL) and CertJuris as our Knowledge and Training Partners. Our partners include Lawctopus as Outreach Partners, SCC ONLINE as Resource partner and SCC Times as the Media Partner, SAMVAD Partners as Proposition Drafting Partners, Polaris Legal as Support Partners, amongst others.<\/p>\n

SettleWiseNow is a professional mediation organisation focused on resolving disputes in a fair, confidential, and respectful manner. It provides structured mediation services across family, commercial, workplace, and consumer disputes, ensuring neutrality while enabling parties to reach mutually acceptable outcomes. SettleWiseNow also conducts specialised training in mediation and mediation advocacy.<\/p>\n

IAMC Hyderabad is a not-for-profit dispute resolution institution, promoting institutional dispute resolution services. In particular, it has a focus on dispute avoidance and early dispute resolution with its hybrid Med Arb & Arb-Med-Arb clauses. IAMC Hyderabad provides a comprehensive suite of dispute resolution management services from tribunal secretaries, domain experts, emergency arbitration provisions and end to end case management solutions.<\/p>\n

Together, the organising institutions bring together expertise in mediation practice, legal education, and dispute resolution technology to deliver a competition that is as close to real professional practice as a student can encounter.<\/p>\n

Details of the Event<\/h3>\n

VMAC is a first-of-its-kind international<\/span> competition focused exclusively on mediation advocacy as a core legal skill. While mediation has become increasingly central to dispute resolution in practice, the role of lawyers in mediation including client counselling, strategic negotiation, and settlement design is rarely taught or assessed in structured academic formats. VMAC is designed to address this gap through a multi-stage simulation format that trains and evaluates participants in mediation advocacy.<\/p>\n

The Preliminary Rounds (Online)<\/p>\n

Preliminary Round 1: Deal-Making<\/span> focuses on live negotiation and settlement design. Participants are assessed on their ability to manage competing interests and craft effective, interest-based outcomes.<\/p>\n

Preliminary Round 2: Mediation Pitch<\/span> requires participants to evaluate their client’s interests and present a reasoned, strategic recommendation on the suitability of mediation as a dispute resolution mechanism.<\/p>\n

Preliminary Round 3: Mediation<\/span> involves a full-length mediation session conducted in accordance with professional practice, with a trained mediator presiding.<\/p>\n

Teams that qualify advance to the Knockout Rounds (Offline, Hyderabad)<\/span>, comprising the Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Grand Final. These rounds consist of in-person mediation sessions before experienced mediators, where participants are assessed in real time on advocacy, negotiation strategy, and professional conduct.<\/p>\n

Eligibility<\/h3>\n

The competition is open to law students worldwide. Participation is permitted as follows:<\/p>\n