Tami and Jessi

Jessi Castro (J.D. ’14) and Tami Carson (J.D. ’14 )

The Dale E. Fowler School of Law found success at Southwestern Law School’s fourth Entertainment Law Negotiation Competition on October 5-6. The competition draws students from law schools across the country to utilize negotiation and teamwork skills. The competition also gives students who are interested in pursuing a career in entertainment law the opportunity to network.

Tami Carson (J.D. ’14 ) and Jessi Castro (J.D. ’14) were in first place after the preliminary rounds, and placed third overall out of 28 teams in the final round after out-performing UC Hastings and other well-respected schools. The team of Andrew Cummings (J.D. ’15) and Seth Bowen (J.D. ‘15) placed seventh, one point behind a five-way tie for second place.

“I think Jessi and I were successful because we worked hard and were very well coached, both by Professors Schultz and Dowling and by other members of the ADR Board,” Carson said. Carson also stressed that the Chapman ADR Board promotes competing with professionalism and strength of character.

The teams each have three weeks to solve two separate negotiation problems they receive in advance before the actual competition; those that reach the final rounds receive a third problem to complete for the next day of competition.

This competition, established at Southwestern in 2010, is the first of its kind. The event not only attracted a wide array of students from across the country, but also drew 42 judges—a cross section of professors, alumni, faculty, and local attorneys.