Auckland law students win Australasian negotiation competition

Two University of Auckland students have been crowned Australasia's top student negotiators after defeating teams from leading Australian and New Zealand universities at the 2026 Australian Law Students' Association (ALSA) National Conference in Adelaide.

Fourth-year students Lina Jang and Simran Aujla took out the prestigious Thomsons Negotiation Competition after five days of intense rounds that tested their ability to think strategically, communicate under pressure and solve complex legal problems.

The duo competed in six challenges, each built around a new legal scenario with only a short time to prepare. The grand final against Australian National University involved dividing a successful creative business after a relationship breakdown, requiring them to negotiate issues including intellectual property, branding, future royalties and the long-term value of the business.

For Lina, studying a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts conjoint majoring in Māori studies and geography, the victory highlighted the strength of the pair’s partnership.

"One of the most challenging aspects of the competition was maintaining adaptability and resilience. We were fortunate to have a strong partnership built on trust and complementary working styles, allowing us to support one another and stay focused on the process rather than the outcome."

The pair earned their place in the competition after winning the University of Auckland’s Senior Negotiation Competition earlier this year, becoming the first women's team to claim the title in four years.

They say qualities such as empathy, active listening, collaboration and emotional intelligence are powerful tools in negotiation. At the same time, the experience builds confidence in advocating for clients and making decisions under pressure.

"Competitions like these are invaluable because they give law students the opportunity to develop practical skills that extend beyond the classroom,” says Simran, who’s completing a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce conjoint majoring in information systems.

“They require participants to think critically under pressure, communicate persuasively, build relationships, and solve complex problems - skills that are essential for legal practice.

She says the competition also strengthened their partnership.

"Throughout the competition, we reflected after each round, identifying what had worked well and where we could improve. This helped us communicate more effectively, trust and reinforce one another's ideas, and continually refine our approach.

“By the final rounds, our partnership had become one of our greatest assets, demonstrating that successful negotiation is as much about collaboration and continuous learning as it is about individual ability."

Alongside Lina and Simran, University of Auckland Law Students' Society President Vesper Lee attended the conference, while Molly Zhou competed in the Paper Presentation competition and Matthew Lee reached the semi-finals of the Witness Examination competition, finishing among the top four competitors in Australia and New Zealand.