“When you have a conflict, that means that there are truths that have to be addressed on each side of the conflict. And when you have a conflict, then it’s an educational process to try to resolve the conflict. And to resolve that, you have to get people on both sides of the conflict involved so that they can dialogue.”- Dolores Huerta.

Having never mooted before and emerging victorious as the “Best Overall Mediator”, the Lady Justice Joyce Aluoch Mediation Moot, will remain a fond and defining memory of mine.
A participation call was sent out to my teammates and myself, during our holidays, immediately after I completed my Judicial Attachment. With time to spare, and carefully analysing the semester dates, I thought I had nothing to lose, and everything to gain. I therefore accepted the invitation with little prior experience in mediation, my only exposure being the Alternative Dispute Resolution unit, that I completed in second year.
Throughout the training process, the unfamiliarity of the process weighed heavy on me and oftentimes pushed me to consider quitting. However, with tons of self-belief, support of my family, and the encouragement of my coach, June Anindo, and other very able advisors (who are too many to name!), I found steady guidance and kept going. Each session was better than the last, but still felt inadequate; I found myself practicing late nights, squinting to decipher hurried notes jotted down during training, watching numerous mediation moots, striving to embody the essence of a great mediator.
As a great believer that one reaps what one sows, I knew this effort would not be in vain. I went on to top all my rounds, from the preliminaries to the semi-finals, and ultimately emerged the mediator for the finals.

Until then, my rounds had been relatively straightforward: agenda items discussed, hands shaken, promises made, and agreements reached. The finals, however, were an entirely different story. With excellent students from Stellenbosch University and United States International University as finalists, the session quickly descended into turbulence. Within the first fifteen minutes, a caucus was called, and a deliberately hostile environment was created to emulate the true nature of conflict. It seemed as though none of the four agenda items listed would be addressed; instead, the real issue became clear, a broken commercial relationship beneath the talks of financial strain.
I had to quickly adapt to this, and in doing so, bring out the power that mediation holds, not just to resolve contractual disputes, but to mend relationships. One of the judges told me something I will always carry into all my mediation sessions; he said, “If it was truly about the money, or performance of the contract, they would not have opted for mediation. There were clearly underlying issues; and that is the primary function of the mediator, to seek out what the core hinderance is to the settlement of the dispute.”

Beyond the award itself, what I valued most, was the journey; the friendships formed and the lessons learned. This experience reminded me that stepping into new spaces, even with uncertainty, can lead to growth and achievement.
Looking forward, I am eager to deepen my involvement in alternative dispute resolution, to pursue mediation accreditation, and to embrace future moot opportunities with the same courage I found here.. I wish to see Strathmore Law School continue to shine on international platforms in mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution moots. I would like to also appreciate Women in ADR for providing young dispute resolution enthusiasts with a platform to showcase their talents. Lastly, and most importantly, I would like to thank myself for embracing the value of betting on myself when it counted the most!

Article by Rasmeet Kaur