Negotiation Skills at Nottingham Law School
There are training sessions… and then there are experiences that leave a lasting impact. At this years Nottingham Law School Summer Event we did exactly that.
It was our absolute pleasure of delivering a full day of in-person negotiation skills training to a brilliant group of law students. The format was practical, the atmosphere electric and the learning? Deep, engaging and refreshingly fun.
Why Negotiation Deserves More Attention in Legal Education
Too often, negotiation is undervalued in legal education—viewed as a “soft skill” or secondary to litigation and black-letter law. And yet, it is everywhere in a legal career. Whether it’s working with clients, resolving disputes, agreeing internal stakeholder decisions, drafting commercial contracts, or settling cases before trial—negotiation is the daily currency of legal life.
In fact, from September 2025, negotiation will become a mandatory part of the qualification process for barristers. That’s a powerful statement: the legal profession is formally recognising what many of us already know—negotiation isn’t just helpful, it’s essential.
But here’s the truth: it’s not just lawyers who need negotiation skills.
Every business interaction—whether it’s procurement, sales, HR, operations, or leadership—relies on the same negotiation principles. What changes is the context, not the skill itself. That’s why the core focus of the workshop was practicing those skills so they can be applied, adapted and performed under pressure.
Try our FREE NEGOTIATION TASTER to practice your skills!
Session One: Negotiation as a Human Skill (and Why Laughter Matters)
We began by stripping negotiation back to what it really is: a human interaction.
No long lectures. Just real conversations and quick-fire role plays that had students not only thinking, but doing. The laughter in the room wasn’t just a by-product of fun—it was the sound of learning happening in real time. Students were immediately energised by the freedom to try, fail, adjust and try again.
Session Two: Tactics and Techniques You Can Practice
In the second session, we shifted gears to cover negotiation tactics and techniques—tools that can dramatically influence outcomes if used effectively.
We explored a wide range of practical tools from the TACTIC DECKS, such as “Anchoring,” “Pause, Consider, Respond,” and “Summarising.” But what mattered most was this: students didn’t just hear about the tactics—they practiced them. Because theory without action never sticks.
Session Three: Observation – The Hidden Skill in Team Negotiations
The final session focused on arguably the most underrated skill in any negotiation: observation.
Students were split into teams and assigned negotiation roles, including observers whose job was to identify what was working, what wasn’t and how subtle shifts in body language, tone and structure influenced outcomes.
For many, this was the lightbulb moment. As one student put it: “I never realised how much I missed when I was only focused on what I was going to say next.”
The Impact: Confidence, Reflection and Professional Recognition
What makes this style of training different is simple: we practice!
Several students told me they wished they’d had this workshop before entering their negotiation competitions—because it gave them the structure, strategy and self-awareness they hadn’t had before. Others expressed how, in just a few hours, they’d built personal confidence they hadn’t expected to find.
At the end of the day, every student received a Certificate of Completion and a LinkedIn endorsement, because we firmly believe that anyone—regardless of age, experience, or profession—who takes time to practice negotiation is doing something that most professionals never do: they are investing in one of the most transferable and powerful skills there is.
Final Thought: Practice Builds Confidence, Not Just Knowledge
This wasn’t just a law school event. It was a professional development accelerator.
Negotiation is not an academic topic—it’s a life skill. One that shapes careers, defines relationships, and builds real-world success. I’m proud to help shift the perception of negotiation training from theory-heavy lectures to skills-based, practical, and confidence-building experiences.
Thank you again to Nottingham Law School for inviting me back, and to the students for throwing themselves into the experience with such enthusiasm.
Whether you’re a future barrister, commercial solicitor, or leading your own business—practice isn’t optional. It’s the difference between knowing and doing.
Try our FREE NEGOTIATION TASTER to practice your skills!
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