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MSU College of Law

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 8, 2011

CONTACT: ERIKA MARZORATI
517/432-6848, marzorat@law.msu.edu

MSU Law Team Wins Regional Mediation Tournament

East Lansing, MI — Michigan State University College of Law took first place in the Great Lakes Regional Mediation Tournament, topping teams from law schools across the Midwest and Ontario. As the regional winner, MSU Law won $1000 toward expenses and entry fees for the International Law School Mediation Tournament, which will be held in March in London, England.

Third-year MSU Law students Jennifer McGrath, Abigail Valovage, and Carrie Waggoner earned a spot in the regional finals after three preliminary rounds in which each team member rotated through the roles of mediator, advocate, and client. The team won the tournament after earning five of the six judges’ ballots in the final round, which included The Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz College of Law, Osgoode Hall Law School of York University, and last year’s international competition winner, Windsor Law. In addition to helping secure a win for the MSU Law team, Waggoner was individually recognized with the award for “Best Mediator” of the 33 student competitors.

“I am very proud of the women who represented us this weekend. They showed great poise, professionalism, and skill,” said Brian Pappas, adjunct professor and associate director of the MSU Law Alternative Dispute Resolution Program. “They are great empathic listeners and exhibit the representation and facilitation skills that will enable them to be truly outstanding lawyers and representatives of our Law College.”

The event drew 11 teams from across the Great Lakes region to Ann Arbor on February 4 and 5. Marquette University Law School and the University of Michigan Law School were among the other schools that competed.

With the vast majority of civil cases now resolved through negotiation, mediation, or arbitration, the MSU Law Alternative Dispute Resolution Program provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to meet the challenges of the 21st century legal profession. Through innovative courses, faculty-directed competitions, and practice-based learning, MSU Law’s ADR students acquire the special expertise required to succeed in this rapidly growing field.

Michigan State University College of Law is a leading institution of legal education with a long history of educating practice-ready attorneys. As one of only a few private law schools affiliated with a major research university, MSU Law offers comprehensive interdisciplinary opportunities combined with a personalized legal education. After 100 years as a private and independent institution, the affiliation with MSU has put the Law College on an upward trajectory of national and international reputation and reach. MSU Law professors are gifted teachers and distinguished scholars, its curriculum is rigorous and challenging, and its facility is equipped with the latest resources—all affirming MSU Law's commitment to educating 21st-century lawyers.

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320 Law College Building
East Lansing, MI 48824
www.law.msu.edu

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