A great opportunity for law students to enhance their mediation and arbitration skills through the VII National Med-Arb Competition (NMAC) 2026, organised by the Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee of Tamil Nadu National Law University (TNNLU), Tiruchirappalli.
About Tamil Nadu National Law University (TNNLU)
The Tamil Nadu National Law University (TNNLU), located in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, is a premier National Law University established by the Government of Tamil Nadu in 2012. Spread across a 25-acre campus, TNNLU offers BCI-approved five-year integrated undergraduate programmes including B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) and B.Com. LL.B. (Hons.), along with LL.M. and Ph.D. programmes.
TNNLU is widely recognised for its academic rigor, emphasis on research, and strong institutional focus on alternative dispute resolution, advocacy, and professional skill development. The ADR Committee of TNNLU regularly organises national-level competitions and training programmes to promote practical learning in dispute resolution.
About the NMAC, 2026
The National Med-Arb Competition (NMAC) 2026 is centred on the Med-Arb model of dispute resolution, a hybrid mechanism combining mediation and arbitration to achieve efficient, cost-effective, and party-centric outcomes.
The competition uniquely evaluates the versatility of a mediator who transitions into the role of an arbitrator, while simultaneously testing the adaptability of participating teams. Participants act as a client-counsel pair during mediation and transition into a counsel-counsel dynamic during arbitration.
Through this dual-stage format, the competition aims to enhance participants’ understanding of negotiation, mediation advocacy, arbitral reasoning, and procedural adaptability.
Event Timeline
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Commencement of Provisional Registration | 6 December 2025 |
| Release of Problem | 24 December 2025 |
| Deadline for Provisional Registration | 26 December 2025 |
| Confirmation of Slots & Start of Final Registration | 28 December 2025 |
| Deadline for Seeking Clarifications | 1 January 2026 |
| Deadline for Final Registration | 10 January 2026 |
| Release of Clarifications | 11 January 2026 |
| Deadline for Soft Copy of Arbitration Memoranda | 25 January 2026 |
| Preliminary Rounds | 7–8 February 2026 |
| Advanced Rounds | 28–29 March 2026 |
| Valedictory Ceremony | 29 March 2026 |
Location and Mode
Mode: Offline
Location: Tamil Nadu National Law University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu
All rounds of the competition will be conducted physically at the TNNLU campus.
Format and Structure
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Competition Model | Mediation followed by Arbitration |
| Participant Roles | Negotiating Team & Mediator-Arbitrator |
| Rounds | Preliminary → Advanced → Final |
| Assessment | Memorials, mediation skills, arbitral reasoning |
Eligibility & Requirements
The competition is open to law students enrolled in recognised undergraduate or postgraduate law programmes, subject to the eligibility and team composition rules specified in the official Rulebook.
Participants must adhere strictly to registration timelines, submission requirements, and procedural guidelines. Teams are expected to demonstrate proficiency in negotiation, mediation strategy, arbitration advocacy, and legal drafting.
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Awards and Prizes
The following awards will be conferred at the Valedictory Ceremony:
- Winner – Negotiating Team
- Runner-Up – Negotiating Team
- Winner – Mediator-Arbitrator
- Runner-Up – Mediator-Arbitrator
- Best Memorial
- Best Arbitral Award
Winners will receive exciting prizes, details of which will be announced by the organisers.
Contact Information
For any queries or clarifications:
Email: nmac@tnnlu.ac.in
Application Procedure
Interested teams must register online through the official registration link provided by the organisers.
Click here to Register
Rulebook
Brochure
Participants are advised to complete provisional registration before 26 December 2025 to secure participation.
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