Yong Pung How School of Law

At the end of this course, students will be able to:

• Apply advanced legal research and writing skills
• Construct analytical frameworks for international legal disputes
• Draft a substantial legal memorial
• Develop oral advocacy and mooting techniques
• Participate in consultations and practice rounds
• Respond constructively to feedback
• Demonstrate teamwork and collaboration
• Prepare for international moot court competitions

After successfully completing this course, students will

1. Explain facilitative mediation and the purpose of each stage in the process
2. Explain the different approaches to mediation and when each might be appropriate
3. Apply the skills and techniques in communication, negotiation, and mediation
4. Reflect meaningfully on the practical experience and analyze how the experience relates to conflict resolution theories
5. Research and critically discuss some current issues in conflict resolution and effectively present (orally and in writing) your research findings

This term, the course will focus on the following themes:*

• Global trends in mediation.
• What happens after the ink has dried on the Singapore Convention? Once countries have signed on, what does it mean for them and what else to they need to do or to build to benefit from the Convention?
• International and comparative legal frameworks for mediation.
• Implications for mediator standards and ethics in light of the Singapore Convention.
• Online dispute resolution initiatives / digital readiness for mediation service providers

*There may be changes to the themes, depending on current international developments and the needs of participating mentor organisations.

This course aims to provide students with the following learning opportunities:

• Understanding basic features of major digital technologies;
• Understanding emerging and cross-cutting law and policy issues surrounding the uses of such technologies and of data in international trade;
• Analysis of cutting-edge law and policy materials and issues on such uses;
• Promotion of self-learning, group learning and further learning after the course; and
• Exercising creativity in designing useful recommendations.

• A comprehensive understanding of the stages, processes, and advantages of different dispute resolution mechanisms
• The unique role of each participant in dispute resolution processes, with a focus on the advocate’s role
• Knowledge of the models and theoretical approaches appropriate to settle disputes through negotiation and mediation
• Capacity to draft written submissions to clients, mediators, arbitrators, and judges, and recognise the distinctive functions of these submissions
• Deliver persuasive and clear oral arguments in different dispute resolution fora

By the end of the course, students should be able to:

1. Understand the general legal framework regulating major corporate deals
2. Understand the main legal documents involved in corporate deals
3. Understand the business and financial rationales for the legal devices used
4. Understand the key issues in negotiating and advising on venture capital investment deals

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

- Apply design methodologies to the challenges of legal processes and services.

- Develop a wider appreciation of the legal industry and innovation today.

- Develop an appreciation of how to be a human-centric participant in the legal industry and deliver value for its users.

This course provides excellent holistic training for students who are interested in any career in law. Students who wish to take part in international moot court competitions will have to apply successfully for this module or seek special dispensation from the course convenor, while students who have taken this course may be eligible to do another competition a second time.

This SMU-XO course offers an international experiential learning opportunity that allows students to translate classroom knowledge and theory into practical solutions for various institutions. In addition to visiting law firms, government agencies and companies, student will also participate in a consultancy project. Through the project, students will learn how to solve business problems with guidance from the faculty and project sponsor mentors. The project will focus on evaluating legal problems in different areas of law and recommending/applying solutions to these problems.

For most of the competitions, teams will be expected to produce at least one substantial memorial, produced progressively over a minimum of 3 coach-vetted drafts; in some competitions, there are national/regional qualification rounds for the oral rounds. After the memorials have been submitted, teams will undergo 20-50 practice rounds.