In the line of fire

Determined to have the ultimate American college experience while studying in Chicago as part of my undergraduate degree, but refusing to don a ra-ra skirt and punch the air with pom-poms, I joined the Model United Nations (UN) club. Little did I know the extent to which Model UN would cement my aspiration to become a solicitor '“ and equip me with the skills to see me through my legal education and beyond.

Model UN is a simulation of the work undertaken by the real United Nations. Schools are assigned a country to represent and must then form delegations to participate in a number of committees. Those assigned the US are given a confirmed place on the Security Council simulation and a veto.

Conferences are held throughout the year by local colleges, and the season culminates in the National Model United Nations ('NMUN') conference in New York City. To familiarise ourselves with procedure we entered a few trial conferences; I cannot deny how bizarre it was to see scores of students acting like fully fledged diplomats and discussing how many millions they would pledge to new HIV treatment programmes. But I was hooked. It gave me the opportunity to 'act out' my enthusiasm for international politics and to develop a plethora of skills.

Focusing on the issues

To be able to confidently and effectively interact with the other 3,000 delegates from across the world, preparation was key. Before the conference each pair of delegates was assigned to a committee and had to undertake research pertaining to three issues that would be under review. My host university was assigned Albania and thereafter my partner and I were placed on the World Health Organisation. We had to conduct research that focused upon polio eradication, the role of generic pharmaceuticals and prevention versus treatment for HIV. For this task I cannot over-hype the importance of accurate citation of relevant documents and the usefulness of e-mail bulletins when gathering preliminary research. To accurately reflect Albania's stance we also had the rare opportunity to meet the Albanian mission to the UN, which proved to be invaluable.

NMUN was a steep learning curve in the front line of fire. To suggest that the New York conference itinery spanning the five days was demanding would be a gross understatement. From the word go I averaged a 13-hour day in the frenzied miasma that consisted of committee briefings and rapturous caucus debates (casual discussions which break into smaller policy-forming groups focused on writing resolutions).

Standing your ground

Success was largely dependent on discerning the position of other delegates and suggesting practical solutions. To achieve this it was important to take every opportunity to liaise and negotiate to advance your cause. The arts of collaboration and standing your ground in the face of stern opposition were important ones to grasp.

I worked hard before the conference to ensure that I had all the relevant and up-to-date research at my disposal if questioned during caucus. This was vital to the credibility of our knowledge and ability to command the direction of a caucus when recommending courses of action for high-stake agreements. Remaining calm under deadline pressure and focusing on delivering clear, reasoned, and accurate information are skills that any lawyer needs, and my New York conference experience has given me a great head start with these.

I set up caucus groups and assigned tasks to each member that complimented their best attributes. For example one delegate was unable to speak English very well but was fantastic at recruiting delegates to lend their vote of support, therefore he was tasked to market our working drafts.

My partner and I always made ourselves available to one another if we needed advice and we both contributed to team talks in the evening before we re-joined our committee for social drinks. After all, it cannot be all work.

A successful strategy

Our combined efforts throughout the conference, which included developing our ability to master legal wording when drafting formal documents, resulted in our resolution being adopted by the committee - without any amendments. On a personal and rather soppy note I also met an array of inspiring individuals, many of whom have since become firm friends.

The reality for many law students today is heightened competition to secure the dwindling number of training contracts. I think it is vital to be creative with experiences that you can boast on your CV to impress potential employers. Model UN is a unique way to gain legal exposure, and it is a coveted opportunity.

Having the opportunity to enact the workings of the UN and grasp the magnitude of the task bequeathed was a thrilling but also incredibly humbling experience and one that provided me with the opportunity to experience what a legal career may involve.