Preparation for the CDRC Mediation and Negotiation Competition - HV3907

• Title: Preparation for the CDRC Mediation and Negotiation Competition
• Guaranteed by: Department of Civil Law (22-KOP)
• Faculty: Faculty of Law
• Actual: from 2023
• Semester: summer
• Points: 0
• E-Credits: 3
• Examination process: summer s.:
• Hours per week, examination: summer s.:0/2, colloquium [HT]
• 4EU+: no
• Virtual mobility / capacity: no
• State of the course: taught
• Language: English, Czech
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Note: course can be enrolled in outside the study plan; enabled for web enrollment
• Guarantor: JUDr. Martin Svatoš, Ph.D.
• Teacher(s): Mgr. Tereza Hanajová; JUDr. Mgr. Tomáš Ryza

Annotation

Last update: JUDr. Mgr. Tomáš Ryza (03.01.2024)

Annotation
Mediation and negotiation skills are at the forefront of the interest of international chambers of commerce and law firms and are becoming increasingly valuable to today's society. This course aims to give students practical knowledge of mediation and negotiation techniques and processes and solid preparation for participation in one of Europe's most prestigious international English language competitions. The preparation will focus on the requirements of the CDRC competition - IBA-VIAC Mediation and Negotiation Competition (CDRC), held annually in Vienna. Primarily, it is about building a range of soft skills that students will use in legal and business practice.
Students will learn to analyze complex legal and commercial disputes, identify critical facts, develop a case timeline and dispute resolution strategy, articulate the parties' positions, interests, and needs, and differentiate between them. In practical training, they will also gain confidence in formulating arguments in a foreign language, learn how to respond flexibly to the other side's strategy and appropriately promote their interests or those of their client.
Graduates of the course will deepen their analytical and critical thinking skills, process strategy, and collaboration. They will also gain practical experience in non-verbal communication and significantly expand their English vocabulary in international law and business. In doing so, they will further learn teamwork and have the opportunity to meet prominent figures in alternative dispute resolution and other students from around the world with similar backgrounds.
The selection procedure for the CDRC International Competition will occur before the start of the course through a selection procedure announced by the Student Mediation Association Prague, z.s. The actual participation will depend on the funding possibilities and the acceptance of the Charles University team to the competition by the organizer of the international competition. Successful completion will be conditional on the student's participation in 80% of the seminars. If the student is not a member of the CDRC team, participation in the final mock mediation moot court and sending written preparation is also mandatory.

During the course or at the end of the semester, it is possible to apply for the ICC international competition (or, if interested, for other international competitions for which a separate preparatory course is not offered).
The course is prepared and taught in cooperation with members of the Student ADR Association, z.s.


Course objective
The course aims to prepare for the international CDRC competition in English actively. Students will focus on developing mediation and negotiation techniques and skills and developing their argumentation skills to be used as lawyers, businessmen, or mediators. They will gain new knowledge of conflict resolution theory and practical practice of various techniques in the mediation process in a competitive environment. Students will gain insight into the legal aspects of negotiation.
The course will focus on particular aspects of the case through case studies, which will be analyzed and practised during the seminar. Students will develop the ability to represent their clients effectively, lead the negotiation or mediation process, and advocate for their business interests appropriately. The process will reflect the high skill and knowledge required at the CDRC, including the rules of separate negotiations. Standardized feedback will be included to enable students to identify their strengths and weaknesses and develop them further.
The course will be practically focused, and individual lessons will be developed concerning the rules of the CDRC competition and the skills needed to participate effectively. We recommend taking the general courses and open training of the Student ADR Association to gain general knowledge about mediation and negotiation. Alternatively, students are expected to supplement their missing knowledge through active self-study.

Teaching methods

Last update: JUDr. Mgr. Tomáš Ryza (03.01.2024)

All seminars will be composed of practical training for the international competition. Basic mediation and negotiation theory will be explained as well. Still, as this course is not planned as a substitution for other theoretical courses in mediation and negotiation, we expect that students will study theory themself.
Home assignments will be available in Moodle. Students are required to obtain at least 10 of 30 points.

Syllabus

Last update: JUDr. Mgr. Tomáš Ryza (03.01.2024)

Syllabus

1. Introduction to mediation competitions and the concept of competitions, information about the CDRC, the presentation of the syllabus and teachers
2. Mediator: role of the mediator at the competition, preparation for the meeting, opening speech of the mediator, use of flipchart
3. Negotiators: role of client and lawyer, an opening statement of the parties, cooperation between client and lawyer
4. Negotiators: Preparation for the meeting, strategy, BATNA, WATNA, ZOPA
5. Case study - joint analysis, preparation of strategy, and introduction
6. Mock mediation moot court
7. Parts of the mediation process and possible variations of the process, agenda creation, correct timing, information gathering & sharing,
8. Mediation techniques and negotiation techniques and their use in practice, active work with the mediator and the other party
9. Case study - Group negotiation, identification of techniques and soft skills, feedback
10. Non-verbal communication, cultural differences, manipulation, rules, and evaluation criteria
11. Case study - Group negotiation, process management, and business strategy, feedback

Course completion requirements

Last update: JUDr. Mgr. Tomáš Ryza (03.01.2024)

The student will be required to participate in seminars actively and contribute to the team's preparation for the CDRC.

Course completion requirements:

1. Participating as a negotiator or mediator team member at the CDRC or other international competition confirmed in advance or attending the final mock mediation moot court with prior submitted written preparation
2. At least 80% attendance at the seminars
3. At least 10 of 30 points from home assignments in Moodle

As this course requires continuous preparation, no formal exam will be organised, and no re-attempts will be allowed. All students who will not fulfil conditions by the beginning of the exam period will be classified as "N" in SIS. 

Learning resources

Last update: JUDr. Mgr. Tomáš Ryza (03.01.2024)

Compulsory reading

• BRZOBOHATÝ, R. a kol.: Rukověť mediátora, Wolters Kluwer 2016, ISBN: 978-80-755-221-4.
• FISHER, R. - URY, W.: Getting to YES: Negotiating an Agreement Without Giving In, Random House Business Books: New York 1992, ISBN: 978-0395631249.
• MNOOKIN, R. H.: Bargaining with the Devil: When to negotiate, when to flight, Simon & Schuster 2011.
• SVATOŠ, M.: Tajemství mediace aneb řešení sporů od A do Z. Praha 2020, ISBN: 978-80-86819-17-4
• The IBA-VIAC Mediation and Negotiation Competition. 2024 Rules. https://www.cdrcvienna.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/CDRC-Rules-2024-Final-Version.pdf
• UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration (1985), with amendments as adopted in 2006. https://uncitral.un.org/sites/uncitral.un.org/files/media-documents/uncitral/en/19-09955_e_ebook.pdf

Recommended reading

• CARTER, A.: Ask for More: 10 Questions to Negotiate Anything, Simon & Schuster: 2020, ISBN: 978-1982130480.
• PATTERSON, K. - GRENNY, J.: Crucial Conversations Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High, Second Edition, McGraw-Hill Education: 2011, ISBN: 978-0071771320.
• PLAMÍNEK, Jiří. Mediace: nejúčinnější lék na konflikty. Praha: Grada, 2013. ISBN 978-80-247-5031-6.
• POTOČKOVÁ, D.: Nejlepší je domluvit se aneb Průvodce mediačním procesem, Alfom s.r.o., 2013, ISBN: 978-80-87785-00-3.
• ŠIŠKOVÁ, T.: Facilitativní mediace, řešení konfliktu prostřednictvím mediátora. Portál 2012, ISBN: 978-80-262-0091-8.
• VOSS, Ch. - RAZ, T.: Never Split the Difference. Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It, Harper Business: 2016. ISBN 978-0062407801.