National Student Negotiation Competition
National Student Negotiation Competition: Developing Tomorrow's Negotiators
Test your negotiation skills against the best law students in England and Wales and potentially represent your country internationally.
For over a decade, CEDR has partnered with the University of Law to run this prestigious competition, giving law students the opportunity to develop practical negotiation skills, compete at national level, and progress to international championship representation.
How It Works:
The National Student Negotiation Competition 2026 consists of regional heats in Leeds, London and a virtual one. We will try to allocate teams to one of the regional heats depending on their preference, however we cannot guarantee your choice of regional heat. Early applicants are likely to receive their first choice of location.This year the national final is being hosted by Swansea University (the winners of the National Student Negotiation Competition 2025).
The National Competition winners will receive the competition trophy and will be eligible to go forward to the International Negotiation Competition for Law Students, early July 2026, location to be confirmed. To learn more about the International Negotiation Competition, please visit their website here. Please note that travel, accommodation and the entry fee has to be covered by their university.
Competition Format
Regional heats: Two scenarios - one with an active legal dispute, one without. Twelve teams progress to the national final.
National final: Three new scenarios including a multi-party negotiation between three or four teams, two bilateral negotiations, and at least one with an international context.
If you have any questions or queries, please let us know at negcomp26@cedr.com.
2026 Dates
Friday 23 January 2026:
Entry Deadline
Wednesday 28 January 2026:
Negotiation Webinar, virtually via Zoom
Saturday 7 February 2026:
London Regional Heat, at The University of Law, Moorgate
Saturday 14 February 2026:
Online Regional Heat, virtually via Zoom
Saturday 21 February 2026:
Leeds Regional Heat, at The University of Law, Leeds
Saturday 7 March 2026:
Training Day for finalists, at CEDR's offices, 100 St. Paul's Churchyard, London
Saturday 21 March 2026:
National Final and dinner, at Swansea University, Wales.
Entry Details
- £100 entry fee per team
- Teams may be registered without individual names initially
- All communication goes to the Faculty Representative
- Entry fee covers regional and national rounds; winning team's university covers travel, accommodation, and international competition entry fee
Eligibility
- Currently studying undergraduate, postgraduate, or professional law qualification (or aligned area) at an England and Wales institution
- Teams of two law students
- Entry must be endorsed by your institution
- Each institution may enter up to two teams (each consisting of two members)
- Students may not re-enter after reaching the national final previously
- Students may not enter the competition on more than two occasions (regardless of outcome)
Training Support
All entered students receive a webinar on negotiation skills to prepare regardless of experience level.
Finalists receive a free day's advanced training, and the winning team gets additional support preparing for international competition.
Judging Criteria
Professional lawyers, business people, and academics assess teams across eight categories:
- Negotiating planning
- Teamwork
- Relationship between negotiating teams
- Information gathering
- Bargaining
- Outcome
- Negotiation ethics
- Self-analysis
Rules
Download the National Student Negotiation Competition Rules 2026 here.