Pioneering Transactional Lawyering Meet Convenes for Second Time Triples in Size

Students from law schools in 14 states and the District of Columbia will take part in the Second Annual Transactional Lawyering Meet at the Earle Mack School of Law at Drexel University from March 31 to April 1. 

Last year’s meet was the first anywhere to give students interested in transactional law a chance to put their skills to the test the way that moot court competitions have traditionally provided future litigators with simulated experience in real time.  

The meet, designed by Karl Okamoto, professor of law and director of the law school’s Business and Entrepreneurship Program, measures students’ mastery of skills in structuring and negotiating deals.  Teams in the meet will represent both sides of a proposed deal between a fledgling restaurateur and an industry veteran hoping to launch a chain based on her family’s successful shops.  The finalists will be judged by distinguished practitioners from premiere law firms in the region.

Interest in the meet, to which law schools must be invited, has been strong, Okamoto said.

“This competition clearly meets a need that exists among students interested in transactional law,” Okamoto said.  “If we didn’t limit the participation, we’d have far more teams than we could accommodate.”   

The inaugural meet featured teams from 11 law schools.  This year, teams from 29 law schools will take part including American University Washington College of Law, Boston College Law School, Cornell University Law School, Emory University School of Law, Hofstra University School of Law,  Loyola Law School Los Angeles, Michigan State University College of Law, New York University School of Law, South Texas College of Law, Temple University Beasley School of Law, UC Davis School of Law , UCLA Law School, University of Colorado Law School, University of Georgia School of Law, University of Houston Law Center, University of Maryland School of Law, University of Pennsylvania Law School, University of Pittsburgh School of Law, University of Richmond School of Law, Western New England College School of Law and William & Mary Law School.

Each team will participate in two preliminary rounds on Thursday. The five highest-scoring teams representing the entrepreneur and the five highest-scoring teams representing the investor will advance to the semi-final round on Friday.  The final round will feature the top teams representing each side of the transaction.

The meet will begin at noon on March 31.  The final round will be held at 12:30 pm on April 1 in Room 140 of the law school.

The Earle Mack School of Law at Drexel University takes a comprehensive approach to integrating experiential learning and a more traditional law school curriculum.  Students gain hands-on experience through co-op placements, clinics and pro bono service, as well as simulations in class that prepare them for courtrooms, boardrooms and beyond.

News media contacts:
Sarah Greenblatt, communications manager, Earle Mack School of Law
215-571-4804 or sgreenblatt@drexel.edu
 
Niki Gianakaris, director, Drexel News Bureau
215-895-6741, 215-778-7752 (cell), ngianakaris@drexel.edu