Ninety-five South Texas College of Law Houston (STCL Houston) students participated in the law school’s 8th Annual ADR Intramural Tournament, sponsored by Porter Hedges LLP, over the weekend.
The students competed for 25 highly selective spots on the school’s 10 ADR teams that will compete in two international tournaments and eight national tournaments in the coming year.
For the second consecutive year, Porter Hedges sponsored the competitive two-day tournament on the STCL Houston campus.
“We have a growing alternative dispute resolution group at Porter Hedges and are always looking for law school students who are passionate about ADR,” said David Salton ’07, an STCL Houston alumnus and partner at Porter Hedges who served as a tournament judge. “This tournament is a great opportunity to meet future lawyers in the Houston legal community.”
Nickie Tran ’14 — another South Texas graduate and Porter Hedges associate — also returned to campus to judge the students vying for spots on the ADR tournament teams. She noted, “I participated in this tournament as a law student, and I enjoyed these opportunities to represent the school at competitions. I appreciate this opportunity to help other law students in the ADR program.”
Six of the 55 STCL Houston alumni who judged the tournament represented Porter Hedges.
“ADR skills are instrumental for attorneys practicing in any area of the law,” said Debra Berman, assistant professor of clinical studies and director of the Frank Evans Center for Conflict Resolution at STCL Houston. “Tournaments like this one help to prepare our students for the reality of the legal world. Since fewer than 2 percent of all cases make it to trial, it is important for students to hone their skills in negotiating with opposing counsel, and to learn how to be collaborative, yet strong advocates for their clients.”
The tournament consisted of two one-hour rounds in which students negotiated a supposed merchandising contract for a pop star, and then settled a case in which a claim had already been filed.
“Being able to meet with Porter Hedges attorneys and get real feedback from professionals is invaluable,” said second-year student Kimberly Fojtik.
STCL Houston’s ADR teams regularly compete in up to nine events each year — more than any other law school in Texas. The law school’s rigorous selection process, alumni coaches’ dedication, and Berman’s leadership have garnered 17 regional, national, and international first-place championships in recent years — four in the last year alone.
The Frank Evans Center serves as the focal point for dispute resolution education at STCL Houston. The Center’s primary mission is to train law students in both the theoretical foundations and practical applications of dispute resolution policies and procedures. Currently, STCL Houston offers eight ADR-related courses, including a Mediation Clinic and a 40-hour basic mediation training, open to both students and professionals. Approximately 125 students obtain the law school’s 40-hour mediation certificate each year.

South Texas College of Law Houston students participate in the law school’s 8th Annual ADR Intramural Tournament, sponsored by Porter Hedges LLP, as two STCL Houston alumni and Porter Hedges attorneys judge their negotiation skills.

STCL Houston alumni David Salton ’07, a partner at Porter Hedges, and Nickie Tran ’14, an associate at Porter Hedges, served as judges for the 8th Annual ADR Intramural Tournament at the law school last weekend.