Student success in UK Law School Mediation Competition

09 January 2012

At the end of November a team from LJMU entered the UK Law Schools Mediation Competition, which LJMU has previously hosted and is now hosted by Strathclyde University in Glasgow.

Nineteen teams entered the competition, sixteen from the UK and three guest teams (two from the USA and one from Germany.) The LJMU team consisted of three students - Daniel Larrosa (LLM in IBL), Gladuela Geci (LPC) and Elaine Neill a recent LLB graduate. The coach of the team was Ian Johnson, a senior lecturer in law from the Law School. The LJMU team performed extremely well indeed being placed 4th in the overall competition. In terms of UK institutions entering the competition, LJMU was placed 2nd behind BPP University College, London, who were the overall winners of the competition.

Daniel Larrosa of the successful LJMU team said:

"I'm studying a full time Masters in International Business and Commerical Law, having graduated this summer from the LLB Law degree.

"Personally, I'd consider the mediation competition one of the most rewarding opportunities that LJMU has afforded me over the last three years. It's not just an excellent addition to a graduate CV, but an invaluable chance to see first hand the ties that LJMU has not only with top universities and institutions across the UK, but overseas in the United States, on the Continent and elsewhere. It's those excellent connections which allow LJMU to offer educational experiences on an international scale, exposing students to a wealth of experience, guidance and inspiration in their chosen fields.

"I'm extremely grateful to Ian Johnson and the rest of the Law School for offering us such a worthwhile opportunity and can only hope we may be able to represent the University on the international stage in Chicago next year."

Ian Johnson, Senior Lecturer in Law added:

"Legal skills competitions such as this one are an excellent introduction for students to the demands of legal practice. LJMU's continuing success in such competitions is adding to the employability of its students and to the reputation of the Law School. LJMU has enjoyed a particular affinity with the UK Law Schools Mediation Competition having hosted the event in the Albert Dock in Liverpool over the past two years. It was very pleasing to see that an LJMU team could perform so effectively on 'foreign soil'. Many congratulations to each member of the team on an excellent performance."


Pictured (above right): Gladuela Geci (Ela), Elaine Neill and Daniel Larrosa