CANADIAN LABOUR ARBITRATION COMPETITION

The Mathews, Dinsdale and Clark LLP Canadian Labour Arbitration Competition takes place between eight two-person teams from law schools across Canada. UBC joined this competition for the first time in 2001 and won in 2004. All arbitrations are based on an agreed set of facts. The students selected must be in second year at the time of the competition and should be taking Labour Law in the fall term, though this is not a prerequisite. A fact pattern leading to a labour arbitration is provided in October and the team prepares to argue both sides of the fact pattern, using a limited number of cases. At the competition held on a Saturday in late January there is a round robin among eight law school teams arguing in favour of the union or employer in the morning and reversing in the afternoon. The two top teams compete on the Sunday for the cup; the winning team receives a grant toward third year law school fees.

The grading is based mainly on oral presentation and ability to handle questions from the panel, with some marks for selection and use of authorities. There is no factum to file. The legal questions are not difficult, but students should expect to practice their presentation thoroughly, and present their arguments at sessions chaired by Vancouver labour counsel and arbitrators before going to Toronto. The law is assumed to be "Ontario" labour law, but the issues are pan-Canadian. The UBC team is sponsored by Harris & Co. and Victory Square Law Office, and advised by Professor Jim MacIntyre.”