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For over ten years, CEDR in collaboration with the University of Law, has organised and sponsored the National Student Negotiation Competition which pits teams of law students from UK university law schools against one another to find the most effective negotiators. The winners of the competition will then go on to represent England and Wales at the International Negotiation Competition. 

There are three regional heats of the competition, the winners of those heats then progress to the national finals, and the winning team of which travels to an international championship. CEDR offer the winners of the regional finals a one-day negotiation skills training course, giving them even more tools to use as they compete in the final.

About the National Student Negotiation Competition 2025

The National Student Negotiation Competition 2025 consists of regional heats in Leeds, London and a virtual one. We will try to allocate teams to one of the regional heats depending on their preference however we cannot guarantee your choice of regional heat. Early applicants are likely to receive their first choice of location.

This year the national final is being hosted by the University of Law, Leeds (the winners of the National Student Negotiation Competition 2024).

The National Competition winners will receive the competition trophy and will be eligible to go forward to the International Negotiation Competition for Law Students, early July 2025, location to be confirmed. To learn more about the International Negotiation Competition, please visit their website here. Please note that travel, accommodation and the entry fee has to be covered by their university.

Dates

Wednesday 22 January 2025:

  • Entry Deadline

Wednesday 29 January 2025: 

  • Negotiation Webinar, virtually via Zoom

Saturday 8 February 2025:   

  • London Regional Heat, at The University of Law, Moorgate

Saturday 15 February 2025:    

  • Leeds Regional Heat, at The University of Law, Leeds

Saturday 22 February 2025: 

  • Online Regional Heat, virtually via Zoom

Saturday 15 March 2025:

  • Training Day for finalists, at CEDR's offices, 100 St. Paul's Churchyard, London

Saturday 22 March 2025:

  • National Final and dinner, The University of Law, Leeds

Download the National Student Negotiation Competition Rules 2025 here.

In the regional heats, teams will compete in two scenarios, both of which are between two parties.  One of the scenarios will have an active legal claim or dispute between the parties, and the other scenario will not. Twelve teams will progress to the National Final.

In the final, teams will participate in three new scenarios. One of the scenarios will be a group scenario between three or four teams and the other two scenarios will be two-way negotiations.  At least one of the scenarios in the final will have an international context.

As in previous years, the students will be judged on their participation in fictional negotiation scenarios.  Scoring is done on a ranking basis, with additional categorised scoring criteria. This is to ensure fairness.

Teams will be ranked on their performance by professional lawyers, business people and academics, as well as being scored in 8 categories.

These categories are:

  • Negotiating Planning
  • Teamwork
  • Relationship between the Negotiating Teams
  • Information Gathering
  • Bargaining
  • Outcome
  • Negotiation Ethics
  • Self-Analysis

CEDR is providing all entered students with a webinar on the skills of negotiation. This is designed to give all students, whatever their level of experience, the opportunity to hone their skills in advance of the competition.

CEDR will also be offering a free day’s training session in negotiation for the Finalists of the Competition to allow them to develop advanced skills; further support will be offered to the winning team to prepare them for the International Competition.

  • The competition is open to all students currently studying for an undergraduate, postgraduate or professional qualification in law or an aligned area at an institution in England and Wales. Students studying in Northern Ireland and Scotland are not eligible, as separate competitions are run in those countries.
  • The competition is open to teams of two law students.
  • Teams must be entered on behalf of their institution and must be endorsed accordingly.
  • Students who have previously reached the National Final may not re-enter the competition.
  • Students may also not enter the competition on more than two occasions (regardless of outcome).
  • Each institution may enter up to two teams for the competition, with each team consisting of two members.

How to Enter the Competition

Team entry must be accompanied by an entry fee of £100 per team.

Entries do not need to be made with the names of the team members but we will require the names of individual team members by the 27th of January 2025.

Please note: the Faculty Representative will be the individual who receives all communication from CEDR.

Contact us

If you have any questions or queries, please let us know at negcomp25@cedr.com.

The National Student Negotiation Competition was a fantastic opportunity to develop my negotiation skills, working with not only some of the best student negotiators but also judges from across industries, with valuable experience to pass on. I cannot recommend the competition enough to anybody who wants to test their skills in practice. Charlie Brook , Royal Holloway University of London
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