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> Making the most of events

Model EU and UN

Look at the UN links page for more helpful sources for preparation.

  1. Before you go
    • Find out about your country or region, and identify with it - follow everything that's going on there and make sure you feel part of it.
    • Analyse your position statements. For country leaders, know your fellow ministers/representatives and their positions. Make sure you can rely on them!
    • Determine your likely allies.
    • Pre-draft position statements and your proposed amendments/resolutions (although remember that you'll have to be flexible when you get to the negotiations.
    • Create a 'like, expect, must' table of preferences. Use this to decide what you have to get out of the negotiations at any cost. The table will, for every issue, give the solutions you'd like to have, the one you expect the other side(s) to agree to, and what you'll be kicked out of public office for if you fail to achieve it.
    • Know your bottom line for all your negotiations that you just can't afford to lose, even if everything else falls apart. Don't forget it.
  2. During the event
    • Be flexible.
    • Find your allies on specific points and form coalitions. This is especially important if you represent a small state or the position is an unpopular one.
    • Everything (nearly) is about consensus. Recognise this, and what it means for you (and the importance it has for the other representatives too).
    • Don't be afraid to horse trade with other people. Take advantage of their weaknesses and support them on one point so that they'll support you on another point later on.
    • Don't forget your diplomatic virtues.
      Truthfulness
      It is important not just to not knowingly tell lies, but also to avoid the suggestion of the false or suppress the truth. Do not be afraid to correct false impressions. Act in good faith whenever possible.
      Precision
      Intellectual and moral accuracy are necessary for the good diplomat - a negotiator must be accurate both in mind and soul. If your agreement is based on a prior misconception, and it all collapses, all your work will be ruined. It is wise, if appropriate, to have a written record of pledges said to you by another negotiator.
      Calm
      The good negotiator will avoid displaying irritation when confronted with stupidity, dishonesty, brutality or conceit. Leave all your personal prejudices and moral indignations behind - even if it means seeming heartless.
      Good temper
      Have a good temper, or at least hide your bad temper. A tantrum will not impress your fellow negotiators or make them see your way.
      Patience
      Conciliation, discretion and loyalty over long periods will help build firm relationships.
      Modesty
      Don't let vanity make you ignore advice or help from others. If you are self-satisfied you will not be flexible enough in your negotiations to see alternative solutions.
      Loyalty
      Your loyalty may be divided at times between your government, staff and local interests. If in doubt, serve your government. At least then you're likely to keep your job or get another one.

      And in case you think I've forgotten intelligence, knowledge, discernment, prudence, hospitality, charm, industry, courage and tact, I haven't. I've just taken them for granted....

    • Make contacts with all the other people there - they're bound to be interesting, so take advantage of it.
    • Have fun!
  3. After your return
  4. A special point for ICJ/ICC/ECJ/ECHR Judges
    • Know the facts of the case intimately and understand the timeline of the event.
    • Understand the relevant law and don't be afraid to apply it in the way that seems suitable. You're there to interpret and apply the law as it stands, not to be popular.
    • Consider and appreciate the surrounding circumstances of the case.
    • Make counsel work - test their relevant knowledge, with a view to aiding your understanding of the case. If they don't argue it, you can't consider it, so try to encourage them to look into all the requirements of the law.
    • Respect the members of the court. They're as worthy as you are, even if they don't have as big a wig.

Moot Court

  1. Before you go
    • Know your facts and your cases.
    • Know and understand both sides of the argument, as this will help you to prepare your case better.
    • Practice, practice, practice.
    • Be familiar with the form of mooting - how to cite cases and address the bench. Judges tend not to be too grateful if you're disrespectful to them.
    • Understand all the rules for the court, especially those on timing.
    • Re-read the facts: something new may arise that you didn't notice before.
    • Know how to react and respond quickly to questions from the judges. Knowing both sides of the argument will help with this.
    • Get advice from other people and academics on the law and on presentation skills.
  2. During the event
  3. After your return
  4. A special point for Judges

Negotiation

  1. Before you go
    • Produce a 'like, expect, must' table and know your limits. The table should give a position you would prefer to have, expect the other side to agree to, and the point at which you should walk out of negotiations. Knowing this should mean you're not sacked by your client for giving too much away or agreeing to something they didn't want you to.
    • Know a bit of the tax rules. Knowing the figures including VAT and not including VAT will give you an extra way to confuse the opposition when it comes to the actual negotiation.
    • Decide on your roles with the other members of your negotiating team.
    • Pre-draft documents such as contracts. Keep some pro-forma clauses aside (jurisdiction agreements, arbitration agreements, confidentiality clauses) so that they can be appended if need be. This should force the opposition to accept your clauses and impress the judges with your preparation and forward thinking.
  2. During the event
    • Remember your 'like, expect, must' table. It's your blueprint to what you're allowed to agree to.
    • Be bold. Don't shy away from pushing the other side.
    • Trade what you don't need for what you do.
    • Make use of tactics:
      1. Cooperative - give information in the expectation and hope that the other side will reveal information to you similarly.
      2. Uncooperative - American style hard ball. Give nothing away, and push as much as you can. You risk annoying, infuriating and frustrating your opponents, but they may be forced to give in.
      Blend these tactics to the greatest advantage by matching the other side or leading the negotiating style.
    • Guard your information
    • Be sneaky and pretend something very important is actually unimportant. Then you'll seem like you're doing the other side a favour while stabbing them in the back.
    • If possible, lead the negotiation. If you can set the pace and the agenda you'll have won half the battle by taking the fight to the opposition. Your terms, your solution.
    • Make use of your pre-drafted documents.
  3. After your return
    • Learn from your success/failure. You'll live to fight another day and can get a lot out of understanding where you (and your opponents) did well or could do better.

Essay

  1. Preparation
    • Think outside the box.
    • Use alternative sources, and quote them to lend credence and colour to what you're saying.
    • Look at other issues.
    • Basic techniques:
      1. Compose early - write while everything's fresh in your mind and the facts and theory are at your fingertips. Work on
      2. Edit late - give time for your ideas to grow cold in your mind - you will then read your essay much as your audience would and see its successes and failings.
    • A suggested process
      1. Develop a theory, and write it down
      2. Research and take notes on your sources (enough to be able to attribute sources)
      3. Jot down a rough outline
      4. Reassess your theory - explain it to yourself on paper
      5. Set down a formal outline
      6. Compose, and put in 'TK' when you don't know the exact words to use. Don't get bogged down, and come back to these points later. There are two types of writers' block at this point:
        1. Psychological: just beginnig to write
        2. Conceptual: inadequate preparation
      7. Reorganise your ideas and paragraphs
      8. Rewrite - analyse whether all the elements fit together. See whether the conclusion is inescapable
      9. Edit, and edit again: in successive readings check for different problems - word order, word choice, grammar, passive voice, etc.
      10. Proofread
    • Getting started and overcoming writers' blocks: where an idea or argument is complex, get index cards with the topics, subtopics, etc.; spread them out in the best order then create a draft based on this.