Negotiation Competition
Negotiation Competition 2025-2026
Negotiation skills are in great demand, and the American Bar Association and Chicago Bar Association sponsor national competitions to develop these skills in law students. In the law school’s fall intermural competition, two teams of two students each participate in a simulated negotiation session based on a hypothetical fact pattern. A panel of judges scores the teams, and winners go on to compete on regional and national levels.
This year’s topics for the ABA and CBA competitions will be announced here once the organizers announce them. All JD students are eligible to participate in the internal competition, but the competition will be capped at approximately 35-45 students. Priority will be given to 1Ls, then 2Ls, then 3Ls. Application timestamps will break a tie. (For example, if four slots remain for 2Ls, the 2Ls with the earliest timestamps will be selected.) The application will be posted in Fall 2025.
The BU Law Negotiation Competition is an excellent opportunity for students to gain on-the-ground practical experience in remote negotiation, a critical new skill given our current national landscape. We strongly encourage all students to apply. Please email lawcomp@bu.edu if you have any questions.
2025–2026 Board
Executive Directors
Lyle James and Khushi Kanda
Assistant Directors (Fall)
Scott Janes and Skyler Bennett
Assistant Directors (Spring)
Caria Lee and Kim Mohabeer
Email: lawcomp@bu.edu
NOTE: The dates and information below are for the 2024-2025 Competition Season. Check back in Summer 2025 for updated 2025-2026 information and dates (which will be similar to the dates below).
Important Information & Dates
Intramural Competition Information
Teams of two students each will negotiate opposite each other in a simulated negotiation session based on a hypothetical fact pattern. Teams will receive confidential client information, as well as shared facts, in advance of the competition. The Regional and National competitions follow the same format.
At least two teams will be selected to represent BU at the ABA Regional Client Counseling Competition. The top two teams from the Regional Competition will advance to the National Competition. All competition times are Eastern Standard Time.
Information + Training Session: Wednesday, September 18, 1:00-2:00 p.m. Room 410. (Directors will review rules and conduct a mini-workshop.)
Please RSVP here so we can get a headcount for food!
Session Recording Link
Application Deadline: Friday, September 20 at noon (apply here)
Preliminary Rounds: Thursday, September 26 (5:00-9:00 p.m.) and Friday, September 27 (1:00-5:00 p.m.). Students will be scheduled for a round during these times; conflicts will be taken into account.
Final Round: Wednesday, October 2 (5:00-9:00 p.m.)
Eligibility and Application
Application Due Date: TBA
BU Law’s Negotiation Competition will take place in late September. The time commitment to compete is minimal (approximately one hour for your preliminary round, and a few hours if selected to advance to BU’s intramural semi-final and final). If your team is one of the two teams selected to represent BU at Regionals, you will need to practice up to two hours per week during the weeks leading up to Regionals in November.
Reminder: If you are selected to advance to the ABA Regional Competition, you are required to compete at the Regional competition in person, which will scheduled for late October or early November. The National Competition will be held in February.
The Application Form is available now! Click here to apply. If you experience trouble with the form, please email lawcomp@bu.edu. Slots will be set aside for teams from each class year. Please only fill out ONE application for each team of two. You may also sign up solo and we will pair you with another individual if available. The teams selected to compete will be notified as soon as possible.
ABA Regional and National Competitions
Regional Competition: The ABA will notify us of the date in late September, but it will be one of these three weekends: 10/25-10/27, 11/1-11/3, or 11/8-11/10.
National Competition: January 31 – February 1, 2025