Mock Mediation
Competition
As mediation grows in popularity as an alternative to litigation, it forms an important part of modern alternative dispute resolution.
The Mock Mediation Competition provides students with an opportunity to experience first-hand the benefits of alternative dispute resolution and gain the relevant skills to resolve conflicts in a non-adversarial way such as active listening, self awareness, questioning, analysing, empathising, speaking clearly and logically and creative thinking. The problem-solving process is designed to encourage the parties to identify the issue in dispute, consider options, and work towards an agreement that meets the needs of all parties.
With the assistance of volunteers from the legal profession, the Competition aims to teach students important values such as respect for self and others, accepting difference, personal integrity and a belief that conflict, if handled properly, can result in a change for the better.
Registrations for the 2026 competition are now closed.
Jump to: About the competition | Round materials | Volunteers
About the competition
Open to students in Years 9 and 10, the Competition serves as a natural precursor to the Mock Trial Competition, which is open to students in Years 10 and 11.
The Competition consists of six rounds. All schools will participate in the first three rounds. Teams are scored on each round, with the top-scoring eight schools proceeding to the final rounds on a knockout basis. The Competition Timetable details the dates for each round.
At the start of each round, schools will be provided with a scenario that will involve a dispute between four characters: Party A1, Party A2, Party B1, and Party B2. Two students will play the role of Party A, two the role of Party B, and two the role of Mediators.
Schools will be allocated to an Adjudicator, an experienced volunteer member of the profession, who will judge each round. The Adjudicator will be provided with a set of confidential facts which are to be provided to the schools at the start of their mediation.
For more information about the Competition, please refer to the Mock Mediation Manual.
Round materials
Round one commences on Tuesday 3 March 2026, and results are due by Friday 27 March 2026.
Volunteer for the Competition
The Mock Mediation competition relies on volunteer members of the profession to participate as Adjudicators and Scenario Writers.
By volunteering, you are helping high school students go beyond the legal studies curriculum and further advance their legal skills and knowledge by sharing your first-hand experience with the law and raising awareness of what a legal career can look like.
If you are interested in volunteering, please refer to the materials below for further information and guidance.
If you have any questions, please contact us at mocklaw@lawsociety.com.au.