News & Events

UEFers in the Law Discipline Unlock Negotiation and Mediation Skills with Lawyers and Mediators

17/06/2024

With the aim of enhancing practical experience and further developing essential skill sets for students in the Law discipline, on the morning of June 15, the VMED Club, in collaboration with the UEF Faculty of Law, successfully organized the workshop titled “The Art of Negotiation and Bargaining.” Accompanying the students were experienced lawyers and mediators.

The workshop offered highly applicable lessons, equipping students with real - world knowledge.

Attending this informative workshop were Master Vũ Anh Sao – Vice Dean of the Faculty of Law, Master Nguyễn Nam Trung – Assistant to the Dean of the Faculty of Law, lecturers of the Faculty, as well as UEF students and students from other universities.

"UEF is committed to providing the best possible environment for students to foster their talents and cultivate essential skills throughout their academic journey," shared Mr. Vu Anh Sao, M.A.

Sharing their expertise in negotiation and bargaining skills with the students was Ms. Vũ Thị Quế – Chairwoman of the Members’ Council and Founding Lawyer of Rajah & Tann LCT Lawyers, as well as Vice Chairwoman of the Vietnam International Commercial Mediation Center (VICMC). She is also an accredited mediator of the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (United Kingdom).

The workshop also featured the participation of Mr. Nguyễn Tuấn Phát – Legal Director of Asia Clean Capital Vietnam and Head of the Energy and Infrastructure Working Group at VICMC. He is likewise an accredited mediator of the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (United Kingdom).

Faculty of Law representative showing appreciation for the speakers' contributions and partnership.

At the opening of the workshop, Lawyer and Mediator Vũ Thị Quế provided students with an overview of the negotiation process. However, prior to that, students needed to clearly understand the concept of negotiation itself and how it differs from bargaining. Once UEFers had grasped these fundamental concepts, the speaker proceeded to guide them in exploring the negotiation process in greater depth.

The negotiation process consists of four stages: Selection – Conduct – Implementation – Outcome. By breaking down each stage, Lawyer and Mediator Vũ Thị Quế clearly explained in detail the steps from preparation to execution, ensuring that the process is carried out in a coherent, logical, and accurate manner.

UEFers gained access to various unique negotiation techniques through the speakers' insightful sharing.

Continuing to equip students with essential knowledge, Lawyer and Mediator Trần Tuấn Phát focused on effective negotiation skills. Corresponding to each stage of the negotiation process, lawyers apply different sets of skills. These include key and indispensable skills such as information and document collection, case file research, as well as legal consultation, orientation, and the proposal of appropriate solutions.

Negotiation is a crucial skill, not just for a legal career, but as an indispensable tool for life.

To immediately apply theory to practice, students were divided into pairs to participate in negotiation and bargaining sessions based on hypothetical scenarios. Each pair of students was given 30 minutes for a working session. Based on evaluation criteria such as reasoning, supporting evidence, and persuasive skills, the two speakers acted as judges to assess and score the students’ performance.

Students took on the role of mediators, putting their negotiation skills to the test in dispute resolution.

At the conclusion of the two simulated negotiation sessions, students listened to feedback and evaluations from the guest speakers. Overall, the students demonstrated an understanding of the theoretical framework and were able to apply basic negotiation skills. However, to perform effectively in real-world practice, students need to continue further developing their skills and professional confidence. The comments and feedback provided by the guest speakers will serve as valuable practical lessons for students as they pursue their future careers.

The Organizing Committee highly commended the students' boldness and confidence during the mock negotiation sessions.

Concluding the workshop, UEFers were further equipped with essential knowledge and skills for pursuing a career in law. It is believed that the insights and experience gained from the lawyers and mediators will be effectively translated into the students’ future professional practice.