By Kate Allman -
A team of teen negotiators from Sydney Boys High School has been crowned champions of the Law Society of NSW’s 2018 Mock Mediation competition. The boys defeated Hurlstone Agricultural High School in a nail-biting grand final held at University of Sydney Law School on 9 November.
Both teams used various resolution dispute tactics to resolve a familiar scenario to Australians in today’s gig economy: a dispute between Airbnb hosts and unhappy guests demanding a refund.
Teacher adjudicators Monika Lama, Linda Attard and Helen Miedzinski praised the students’ negotiation and role-playing abilities. They named Anton Joseph from Sydney Boys High School this year’s winner of the Sydney University Student Advocacy Prize for his display of personal integrity, respect for self and others, and acceptance of differing views during the mediation process.
“Many thanks to the grand final adjudicators, who took time out of their busy schedules to adjudicate the mediation on the day as well as offer feedback, support and advice to both teams,” said Anwen Gardner, the Law Society of NSW’s Mock Law Coordinator.
Gardner also thanked the volunteers, teachers and students involved throughout the year, who “made this year’s competition such a success”.
