NZLSA Conference Week in on its way to Waikato
16 August 2011
More than 100 of New Zealand’s best and brightest law students will descend on Waikato University on Tuesday, August 30 for a week of competitions and networking for the annual New Zealand Law Students’ Association Conference.
The conference is the biggest event on the NZLSA calendar, and is sponsored by the Institute of Professional Legal Studies.
"We are absolutely delighted to be hosting this conference which is a huge highlight of the year," says Professor Brad Morse, Dean of Te Piringa – Faculty of Law.
"And making things even more exciting this year is the fact the conference will see the largest ever Junior Moot Competition and Australian teams for the first time."
The faculty is a co-sponsor of the conference and hosts the opening dinner. Sponsors of the four competitions are Bell Gully (junior/senior moot), Russell McVeagh (client interviewing and the final night dinner), Minter Ellison Rudd Watts (witness examination) and Buddle Findlay (negotiation competitions). Simpson Grierson sponsors the education forum, Duncan Cotterill the quiz night and Anderson Lloyd the President’s Prize.
The competitions provide New Zealand’s up and coming legal minds with valuable practical skills and brings together the NZLSA executive to exchange ideas and offer support.
During the week the faculty and the university will be on show and Professor Morse hopes this year’s teams take out prizes – again.
Last year Ben Gilbert and Andrew Cameron won the negotiation championships and went on to represent New Zealand in the international event in Copenhagen.
They travelled to Denmark with their lecturer, coach and mentor Christina ter Haar and competed against teams from 19 other countries. They won the Joint Maximising Plus Award which acknowledged their negotiating skills and their achieving the best results for both sides in a negotiation.
The complexity of the problems, cultural differences and different negotiating styles made the competition more challenging that Andrew and Ben had experienced in New Zealand and Australia says Andrew.
"So to come away with the award was extremely satisfying."
Professor Morse says Waikato will ensure a very warm welcome to all participants during the week.
"And I wish everyone the best of luck, especially our students."
For more information on the upcoming IPLS NZLSA Conference, you can visit the NZLSA website at www.nzlsa.co.nz, or alternatively contact this year's conference convener Rebecca Goldsmith at [email protected] .