UCLan student named best mediator in the world at law competition

26 April 2017

A University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) undergraduate has been named the best mediator in the world at a prestigious annual law event.

Phoebe Dearden, a third year law student, fought off tough opposition at the International Mediation Competition to scoop the Best Student Mediator award.

The 21-year-old competed against 100 other students across the two day event, which saw 42 teams from universities in India, America and Poland amongst others go head to head. As part of the event, the students were required to take part in two days of training before coming together to compete on the Friday and Saturday.

Phoebe, from Keighley, West Yorkshire, said: “I was in genuine shock when I heard my name being called, I just wasn’t expecting it and I kept asking my friends if they were joking. I’ve never done anything like this before and I am really proud of myself to have won this award.”

During one of the rounds of the competition, Phoebe, in a team with six other students, was required to re-enact a role play scene from an employment dispute between employees. As mediator, in front of a judge, she had to resolve the issue by taking into account both parties’ arguments to help them come to a conclusion.

She won her award for genuine compassion for both parties whilst keeping calm under pressure.

But winning law awards isn’t the only thing Phoebe is doing at the moment. Alongside completing the final year of her degree, Phoebe also works at the Opportunities Centre in the UCLan Students’ Union (SU) and is Chair of the SU Council.

She said: “I’m quite busy juggling the final year of my degree, working in the SU and as Chair of the SU Council, but I always have time for law. Mediation has been a big part of my university life and I really want to go down the legal route when I finish my studies and keep my mediation practice going.”

Other students from the University also enjoyed success at the International Mediation Competition, with the male team storming to the semi-finals.

Senior law lecturer Emma McAndry attended the event, supporting and coaching the students. She added: “I have known Phoebe for the duration of her LLB with Mediation degree and worked closely with her throughout.  She has consistently shown passion and dedication to the subject. 

“Phoebe was tirelessly committed to training and perfecting her craft, and this together with her natural talent, personality and charm secured her first place out of over 100 students from all over the world.

“This is a very well deserved achievement and I am incredibly proud of her.”

This is not the first time the University has had success at the International Mediation Competition. Last year, law student Josiah Raphael scooped Best Student Mediator at the event, fighting off stiff global competition from over 150 fellow legal students.

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