If you’re coaching a contract drafting or negotiation team this Fall, here’s a unique opportunity to kick off the year with real-world practice, prizes, and a complimentary Bootcamp that goes way beyond the classroom.
The ’Canes Contract Drafting & Negotiation Challenge takes place Saturday, September 6, 2025, at the University of Miami School of Law. In this one-day competition, students from around the country will step into the shoes of junior associates to draft, negotiate, and advocate for their client in a simulated transaction.
Competition Highlights
- Hybrid format: students draft their contracts in advance, then negotiate in person with opposing counsel.
- Simulates real client representation, with attorney and judge reviewers using detailed rubrics.
- Awards for Best Drafted Agreement and Best Negotiation Performance.
- Designed for both transactional and commercial litigation students—anyone who needs to read, write, or argue contracts.
Registration Info
- Teams: 2–4 students, at least one must be a law student. Coaches welcome.
- $100 for 2-person teams / $200 for 4-person teams.
- Only 12 team slots available — registration closes August 20 at 11:59 PM ET (or when full). We only have a few slots left.
- Contract problem released upon registration or August 1, whichever comes later.
- Contract drafts due August 28.
- Bootcamp on Friday, September 5 | Competition on Saturday, September 6
To register, click here.
But wait! We’re sweetening the deal even more. Participating teams will receive free admission to our day-long Bootcamp held Friday, September 5, 2025. Every session will be hands-on—participants will engage in small group exercises, real-world simulations, contract redlining, strategic discussions, and practical analysis. Participants will also receive optional pre-reads so they can hit the ground running, especially for the financial and business literacy portion.
Whether it’s drafting clauses, analyzing financial statements, negotiating deal terms, or using AI tools effectively, participants will walk away with actionable insights, real templates, and frameworks they can apply in class, in practice, or at the next client meeting. It’s a great way for your students to sharpen their skills and learn directly from experienced lawyers.
Bootcamp Sessions Include:
The Bootcamp is open to the public, but student spots are limited and reserved only for registered competition teams.
- AI Prompt-a-thon: Prompting with Purpose — Strategy, Ethics, and Efficiency
- Beyond the Law: Business, Financial & Insurance Literacy for Legal Professionals
- Building Blocks of a Contract: What Every Lawyer Needs to Know About Core Clauses
- Core Contracts Every Business Lawyer Must Master
- Deal or No Deal? Ethics on the Edge of Negotiation
- Closing the Loop: Lessons, Tools, and Takeaways
- Closing Time: Where Deals Meet Dialogue Networking Reception
To request more information, contact me at mweldon@law.miami.edu (or find me at SEALS ) or reach out to our Program Coordinator, Aleyda Mejia, at akmejia@law.miami.edu.
We hope to welcome your students to Miami this fall—for sun, strategy, and serious skill-building.