The Society of Legal Professions (SLP) brings students from a variety of backgrounds and interests together to participate in undergraduate competitions such as National Mediation, Mock Trial and Moot Court. SLP performs community services and will raise funds throughout the year.

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**Meeting times depend upon the competition “season”**

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Mediation:

Mediation is an alternative dispute resolution that permits parties to work with a neutral third party to achieve a mutually agreeable solution to the problem.  Teams that compete in mediation are made up of 3 people; you participate as either a client, an attorney or a mediator.  The Mediation season begins right away in September; National Competition is generally the last weekend of October/1^st weekend of November.  Mediation practice is generally one night a week until competition time; then, it increases as needed.  This year, the National Mediation competition is October 26—28 at the John Marshall Law School in Chicago, Illinois.  NSU SLP students have a strong history of winning “All-American Mediator” titles as well as “Outstanding Attorney” or “Outstanding Witness” awards.  NSU students who have won “All-American Mediator” titles include Laura London (2006), Rebecca Kappenman (2005), and April Doolittle (2004, 2005).

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Mock Trial:

Mock Trial involves students participating as attorneys and witnesses in a realistic courtroom setting.  The Mock Trial season begins right away in September; Regional Competition is generally the 3^rd week of January of the next year.  The 2007 case is a sentencing hearing and the Regional Competition is tentatively scheduled in Superior, Wisconsin in January, 2008.  In 2007, a brand new Mocker, Robin Verschelde, won the “Outstanding Witness” title at the regional competition.

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Moot Court:

Moot Court, or Appellate Advocacy, consists of two students competing as a team to argue an appellate legal issue to a panel of judges.  Moot court teams generally write briefs in support of their position and represent either the appellant or appellee in a match.  In January, 2006, the Moot Court competition was held in Arlington, Texas.  April Doolittle and Katie Floro, represented NSU through the top eight nationally ranked teams.

You do not have to want to be an attorney to participate in any of these activities.  All three competitive areas require research, speaking and presentation skills that will better you for any profession or job.

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