Tulane Law student takes second place in national mediation competition

A second-year Tulane Law student is the runner-up in the National Mediator Competition hosted by the University of Houston Law Center, becoming one of two Tulane students clinching top spots in the final competition.

Annie Cleveland (L’24) is the 2022 National Mediator Competition Runner Up, while her classmate Katie Norris, also a second-year law student, finished in the top 4. Both students will receive scholarship awards and trophies for their respective finishes in the competition.

The invitational-style competition took place in a virtual format Oct. 15-16. Cleveland and Norris were coached by seasoned competitors-turned-coaches Kayla Williams and Sophia Urrutia, both third-year Tulane Law students. The coaches this summer completed the Tulane/Humboldt University Berlin Program where they learned mediation techniques from international mediation experts.

 “We loved sharing what we learned in Berlin with Annie and Katie and seeing it translate into great success for them,” said Urrutia.

This was the first time in recent years that Tulane has had multiple competitors make it to the finals in a national mediation competition.

“It’s so exciting to see the tradition of excellence that Tulane ADR has established continue with Annie and Katie,” said Williams. “The judges raved about how professional and prepared they both were throughout every round of competition.’’

Cleveland is leaning towards studying public interest or media and entertainment law, while Norris is still deciding; however, she is heading to AmLaw 100 firm O'Melveny & Myers LLP next summer as a member of the firm's 2023 summer associate class.