USask Family Law Negotiation Moot Team Coached by LAS Practice Management Counsel

Each year, second- and third-year law students from across Canada participate in the National Family Law Negotiation Competition, an opportunity to hone their negotiation skills in family law disputes. Competing in pairs, participants receive confidential facts for each side of a case and negotiate against opposing teams across three consecutive rounds, each progressively more complex. The competition aims to simulate real-world family law negotiations, allowing students to develop practical skills for resolving disputes arising from complex life transitions.

The 2026 competition was held virtually during the last week of February. Four University of Saskatchewan students competed: Taylor Ernst and Isabella Veresh as one team, and Brock Wourms Rowe and Jenna Ernst as another. Legal Aid Saskatchewan’s Practice Management Counsel, Joanne Khan, joined the coaching team alongside Michaela Keet, Gisele Dumonceaux and Kane Fritzler.

Joanne says it was an honour to coach Brock and Jenna in the competition, praising the young professionals who tied for runner-up for their representation plan and earned a third-place finish overall. “There were negotiation teams from across Canada, and the students did very well and were very professional,” she says. “Brock and Jenna showed excellent communication skills within their team and demonstrated some outstanding negotiation skills, several of which would be beneficial for all lawyers to learn. I was very happy to assist with this competition.”

Congratulations to the USask Family Law Negotiation Moot Team for an outstanding and articulate performance at this intense competition!