| 21st March 2024 |
‘Learning Through Practice’: Mediation Clinics and Mediator Education
As a part of establishing collaborations with academic and professional institutions involved in ADR across the globe, the co-director of the NLUO CMN represented the centre in the 4th Annual Mediation Clinic Conference on ‘Learning Through Practice: Mediation Clinics and Mediator Education’, organised by University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, which was held on March 21, 2024, highlighting the international and national achievements of the centre. Apart from it, the unique concept of the Centre i.e., “Learning through Practice” was emphasised which includes: the purely clinical ADR course curriculum offered in the University, live mediation services offered by the Mediation Cell, outreach-cum-awareness activities conducted by the Centre, etc. |
| 24th February – 25th February 2024 |
Single Credit Course on “Negotiation and Mediation Training”
In response to the enactment of the Mediation Act 2023, and implementation of the CBCS policy at the National Law University Odisha (NLUO), the Centre for Public Policy, Law and Good Governance (CPPLGG) and NLUO Centre for Mediation and Negotiation (CMN), at NLUO, jointly hosted a Single Credit Course on ‘Negotiation and Mediation Training’. The course spanned over two days, for 16 hours, aiming to provide participants with practical skills in negotiation and mediation. Mr. Mohit Mokal, facilitated the course, exercising his extensive experience as a Certified Mediator and mentor. Throughout the course, participants actively engaged in theoretical discussions, role-play exercises, and self-reflecting sessions. |
| 26th January- 27th January 2024 |
CMN Stall at NLUO Flower Show
After a successful outreach at the first annual flower show the Centre for Mediation and Negotiation set up an awareness stall once again. At the second annual flower festival held on January 26th-27th, 2024 to promote alternative dispute resolution programs. The stall highlighted the benefits of mediation over litigation and showcased the NLUO Mediation Cell’s services. Many visitors showed interest and booked cases with the assurance of great service and results. The stall effectively communicated the goal of promoting harmony and securing relationships through affordable mediation services. |
| 30 August 2023 |
International Mediation Clinic Network
The 2nd International Mediation Clinic Network meeting was held on August 30, 2023, at 08:30-09:30 IST, hosted by Strathclyde University, Stockholm, UK. The meeting was attended by the coordinators of various mediation clinics across the globe including clinics from the USA, UK, India, and Germany. The discussion primarily revolved around the possibility of including students directly into the process of mediation thereby giving them a first-hand experience. The various courses on ADR being taught in the participating Universities were also discussed along with the prevailing andragogy, which was certainly a mutual learning experience for each one present. The meeting further focused on how international collaboration could help in fostering the idea of mediation both in theory and practice. |
| 9 August – 13 August 2023 |
GAJE–NLUO Mediation and Negotiation Conclave
The NLUO Centre for Mediation and Negotiation organised the first “GAJE-NLUO Mediation and Negotiation Conclave” at NLUO collaborating with the Global Alliance for Justice Education “GAJE” in furthering the goal of Justice Education for all. The conclave received participation internationally, enlightening over 250 bright minds.
The conclave was organised in hybrid mode via Zoom online and at the NLUO Campus offline in collaboration with the Alternative Dispute Resolutions Board NLUO, lasting 5 days in two phases.
The first phase over the duration of three days consisted of workshops on mediation, tools such as active listening that facilitate the process of mediation as well as scholarly discussions on “Transforming Justice and Restorative Practices in the Criminal Justice System” and “Reformative Justice.” It also included paper presentations on the theme of mediation.
The second phase spread over the duration of two days was in the form of the first “NLUO National Negotiation Competition” conducted by the Alternative Dispute Resolutions Board which gave students from 28 prestigious Law Schools across the country a chance to get a hands-on learning experience in Negotiation. |
| 16 July 2023 |
2nd Outreach Drive under Project KUTMB
During the semester-long intervention and awareness program, NLUO’s Centre for Mediation and Negotiation (CMN) conducted its 2nd outreach drive on July 16, 2023, in the village of Baba Tilakanagar. The main purpose of the drive was to educate the villagers about the mediation process, emphasizing that it is a hassle-free approach driven by the parties involved and provides speedy justice. Students performed a skit to simulate a mediation session, simplifying the description of the process and demonstrating the challenges people face when trying to resolve disputes in court. As the audience primarily consisted of children, a negotiation demonstration using “The Orange Quarrel: Beyond Win-Win” example was presented. The students also answered questions and distributed pamphlets to raise awareness about Project KUTUMB and the NLUO Mediation Cell facilities. Through door-to-door interactions, it was discovered that most disputes in the village are minor and are typically resolved through the villagers’ own mechanisms. However, the Centre has assured its support whenever needed. |
| 8 July 2023 |
1st Outreach Drive under Project KUTMB
The NLUO Centre for Mediation and Negotiation (CMN) under Project KUTUMB successfully conducted its outreach drive on July 8, 2023, in the village of Brajebeharipur Tala Sahi. The main purpose of the drive was to make the villagers aware of the process of Mediation and understand that mediation is a hassle-free process driven by the parties that provides speedy justice. 45 – 50 villagers had attended the session. A skit providing a simulation of a mediation session was performed by the students to demonstrate a very lucid and simple description of the process of Mediation and its functioning. It further showcased the difficulties faced by the people while trying to resolve the same dispute in the Court of Law. The students also made their best efforts to answer the questions and queries raised by the audience, by giving them very simple explanations for the doubts they had regarding the process of mediation. The students also went for door-to-door interaction with people and distributed pamphlets making people aware of Project KUTUMB and the facilities available at NLUO Mediation Cell. The Centre has identified a few land and construction disputes in the village and is hopeful to resolve them in the near future with the support of people and the intervention under Project KUTUMB. |
| 23 May 2023 |
International Mediation Clinic Network
NLUO Mediation Cell became the first and the only Mediation Clinic from India to be a part of the first meeting of the member-driven Clinic Network facilitated by Charlie Irvine, Mediation Clinic Director of Strathclyde University, Glasgow. The network included clinic leaders in Universities from the UK, Nigeria, Australia, Czech Republic, Poland, USA and India. The meeting was attended by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. (Dr.) Ved Kumari along with Mr. Abhay Kumar and Dr. Akshay Verma, on behalf of the NLUO Mediation Cell. Prof. Ved introduced the Cell and discussed its work along with various initiatives taken up by the Cell in the last year since its inception. The prime focus of the meeting was to understand the workings of mediation clinics across various institutions in the UK and around the globe. It further emphasised the possibilities of collaboration amongst the clinics. The meeting ended with the creation of the International Mediation Network. NLUO Mediation Cell is hopeful as a member of the Network to share best practices and collaborate and promote Mediation Clinics’ work across universities around the globe. NLUO Centre for Mediation and Negotiation is thankful to Ms. Pauline McKay for providing this opportunity. |
| 21 January 2023 & 23 January 2023 |
CMN stall at NLUO Flower Show
During the annual flower festival that took place from January 21st to 23rd, 2023, the Centre for Mediation and Negotiation set up an awareness booth. The centre’s aim is to raise awareness about alternative dispute resolution (ADR) programs such as mediation and negotiation. It conducts research in ADR areas to develop various techniques to make this emerging process more feasible and affordable than conventional litigation. The members at the booth explained the benefits of mediation over litigation and how the mediation cell has successfully resolved disputes. They emphasized the affordability, win-win results, and ease and efficiency of mediation over expensive and tiring litigation. The booth showcased the facilities available at the NLUO Mediation Cell. The centre, being well-known, has several highly trained mediators who are skilled in carrying out the mediation process in various disputes such as consumer and matrimonial disputes. Many visitors showed great interest and booked their cases at the NLUO mediation cell. The centre assured them of great service and the best results. Overall, the main goal of promoting harmony and preserving relationships through the mediation process by providing services at low costs was effectively communicated to the public through the awareness booth at the Flower Fest. |
| 4th September, 25th September and 16th October 2022 |
Medico-Legal Camps under Project KUTUMB
The students from various centres of NLUO are actively involved in Project KUTUMB, where they engage in activities to promote village welfare, including legal awareness, education, health, and well-being. The members of the Centre for Mediation and Negotiation at NLUO regularly organize skits and demonstrations to highlight the importance of mediation as a method for resolving disputes. They also provide information about the process of mediation and the mediation facility available at the University. The program received a positive response from the village community, who welcomed the NLUO team warmly. The villagers actively participated in the program, asking questions, sharing their concerns and issues, and even showing the team around the village to give them a sense of the living conditions and the government-provided facilities. |
| 15 August 2022 |
Inauguration of NLUO Mediation Cell
On August 15, 2022, the NLUO Mediation Cell at the National Law University Odisha was inaugurated by Hon’ble Dr Justice S. Muralidhar, Chancellor, NLUO & Chief Justice, High Court of Orissa. The event was attended by Prof. Ved Kumari, Vice Chancellor, NLUO, Prof. (Dr.) Yogesh Pratap Singh, Registrar, NLUO, and local residents, including some CMC Corporators from nearby wards. During the inauguration, Justice Muralidhar unveiled the foundation stone of the Mediation Cell, marking the launch of an institutionally run Alternative Dispute Resolution forum in India. Following this, members of the Centre for Mediation and Negotiation (CMN), NLUO delivered a multilingual presentation on the significance, vision, and goals of the Centre and the Mediation Cell, as well as the initiatives already undertaken by the Centre as part of its social activism.
Justice Muralidhar also inspected the mediation room, which was fully equipped to begin formal mediation sessions. Additionally, student volunteers presented a skit titled, “Mediation: An Alternate Dispute Resolution Mechanism” to raise awareness among the local community, and multilingual handouts containing information about the Centre and the Cell were distributed to the attendees. Justice Muralidhar commended the Centre for its initiative. |
| 2 August 2022 |
Legal Literacy and Outreach Drive for the unprivileged masses conducted in collaboration with Legal Aid Society and Pro Bono Club
The Centre had organised a legal literacy and outreach drive concerning mediation of disputes in collaboration with the Legal Aid Society and the Pro Bono Club, NLUO, at the Jankia Legal Aid Clinic established by NLUO. The Centre undertook the task of dissemination and awareness with the help of roleplays and the distribution of handouts in Oriya to the local masses in order to spread the word about the services that the Centre offers. A splendid turnout was observed and the interaction with the masses was made fruitful by the help of all the centres involved in the venture. |
| 1 July 2022 |
Workshop on Mediators Opening Statement by CMN, NLUO in collaboration with Accords International
The Centre for Mediation and Negotiation conducted its first edition of a two-hour online workshop in collaboration with Accords International on Mediator’s Opening Statement. It witnessed many participants across many reputed universities. The centre is planning to undertake more events in the future in collaboration with the Legal Aid Society of NLUO amongst other institutions. This would help in sensitising the masses about the concept of Mediation and Negotiation as primary methods of dispute resolution. |
