Brooklyn Law School ADR Honor Society Hosts ABA Regional Arbitration Competition, Places Third

The Alternative Dispute Resolution Honor Society (ADRHS) at Brooklyn Law School hosted 13 law school teams from around the country for the regional round of the American Bar Association Law Student Division Arbitration Competition, Nov. 9-10. More than 50 alumni and other experienced practitioners served as judges for the competition.

The Law School’s team, which included Joshua Sycoff ’20, Nikolai Wolfe ’19, Montene Speight ’19, and Michael Marando ’19, and coached by Stephanie Coughlan ’19 and Michael Neville ’19, was one of the four finalists and ultimately placed third overall. The team from Duquesne University School of Law won the competition and will proceed to the national finals in Chicago.

ADR is a relatively new trend in the legal profession, but one that is becoming increasingly important. “Some form of ADR is inherently a part of every litigation these days,” said Thomas White ’19, ADRHS president, who organized the event along with Sabrina Woods ’19, vice president of administrative affairs. “ADRHS provides a valuable experience to its members because every lawyer will eventually engage in ADR at some point in their career.”

The ABA Law Student Division Arbitration Competition promotes greater knowledge in arbitration by simulating a realistic arbitration hearing. Participants prepare and present an arbitration case, including opening statements, witness examinations, exhibit introductions, evidentiary presentations, and summations. This year’s hypothetical case involved allegations of personal injury and negligence in a nursing home.

Professor Stacy Caplow serves as faculty advisor for the accredited honors society, now in it third year at the Law School. “The ADRHS is a vital co-curricular program that increasingly plays an important role in developing lawyering competencies as well as allowing students the opportunity to take on leadership and organizational responsibilities,” Caplow said. “This was our first time hosting this competition, and the students did a stellar job organizing the many law school teams and recruiting alumni and local volunteers.”

View the photo gallery here.