How to prepare for a presentation at a session of an international organization? Tips by the Lab's research advisor

Participants of the Investment Law and Arbitration Lab took part in a master class and model negotiations, where they learned how to prepare and speak at a session of an international organization taking the example of UNCITRAL.

Master Class

The Lab’s Research Advisor Anna Kozyakova represents the ICLRC as an observer at the sessions of Working Group III and regularly provides expert comments. She shared her experience on identification of key agenda issues and strategies for preparing persuasive interventions, recommendatios of effective participation in the discussion.

When analyzing the agenda, it is important to:

• scrutinise the materials and identify open issues. This will help to understand the main themes of the session and identify where participants' views may diverge
• identify key issues and positions — what aspects are fundamental to you and what aspects can be compromised
• determine a speaking strategy based on your role as a state representative who has a voice or as an observer who provides an independent perspective and suggestions but cannot directly influence decisions.  

When preparing interventions, legal precision of arguments and clear structure are very important. The main objective is to present information in a logical sequence, starting with defining the problem and ending with proposing a solution.

The diversity of the audience should also be taken into account: different legal, academic, and cultural backgrounds, sometimes conflicting strategic interests, and different perspectives on issues.

Information and brevity of speech are important factors in an oral presentation, which usually lasts no more than 2-4 minutes. You should speak slowly and distinctly so that simultaneous interpreters can translate everything clearly. It is also worth monitoring the translation into the languages the speaker knows in terms of terminology to ensure that the speech is translated correctly.

Model Negotiations

During the practical part of the master class, the participants were looking for compromises and legal assessment of the selection and appointment of judges. A model negotiations was devoted to this issue and based on the example of the session of Working Group III, in which the Lab participants acted as delegates from a fictitious state and observer organizations.

A master class to prepare a speech takes place in the Lab alongside research work, as well as classes in legal writing and research writing, lectures on investment law, arbitration, and dispute resolution.

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