AN APPRAISAL OF THE ADR SOCIETY’S ADMISSION PROCESS by Victor Oraifo and Busuyi Adedeji

The society’s annual admission process comprises the medium through which the society ensures continuity within her membership circle. It is customarily characterized by the purchase of membership forms with essay question s(with the exception of the final year students) and a subsequent interview process conducted by panels consisting of the executives. After the foregoing processes are completed and the scores are collated, the list of members admitted into the society is published.

This year’s process commenced with the sale of forms from the 15th of January, 2018 and the interviewprocess scheduled for Friday the 26th of January, 2018. The essay questions were set according to various levels and had certain rules that were to be adhered to.

The interview stage was conducted by all the executives of the society in conjunction with some notable members of the society (8 panels) and prospective members of the society were assessed based on certain parameters.

Barriers

Applicants were expected to write an essay strictly in relation to the question for his/her class not exceeding two pages. Failure to adhere to these rules amounts to a reduction in mark. There were several instances where applicants either answered the wrong question or answered the right question wrongly. In answering the right questions wrongly, candidates failed to conduct a proper research as well as failing to appreciate words like “critically explain”, “write extensively”. When asked to critically examine, you are expected to give an overview as well as point out loop holes and if possible proffer solutions. Some applicants also seemed to misconstrue some questions and could not properly distinguish between “list” and “explain” for the purpose of the essay. Several 300 and 400 level applicants whose essay question was on listing legal frameworks for ADR and explaining one, were seen to have just explained one without listing the other ones. In such an instance where applicants are meant to list and explain, anything short of that becomes unsatisfactory. Furthermore, some candidates failed to adhere to the format of the essay. Violations of these rules led to a reduction in score which constituted 40% of the whole admission exercise..

At the interview stage, applicants were meant to have full knowledge of their essays and general concepts and principles of Alternative Dispute Resolution as these areas were an integral part of the interview process. On the general comment of the various panelists, there were applicants who plagiarized and had no idea about the content of their essays. Inability to adequately defend your essay was also a ground for deduction of scores. The panelists also assessed prospective members based on appearance, knowledge about the society and others (some of which were not adhered to) and there were instances of applicants appearing before the panel who were not satisfactorily dressed.

Final note

The prospective applicant is subsequently admitted into the society when in calculation of his/her essay score and interview score, he/she passes a cutoff mark for the exercise.

The turnout was massive this year and after deliberations have been made, the admission list into the ADR society for 2017/2018 session will be released on the faculty’s notice board on the 2nd of February, 2018.

The foregoing analysis of the admission process should be taken into consideration by those members that might go through the process next year, to ensure reduced complication.

To all those who applied and didn’t get picked, we implore you to come for our programs and subsequent events that would be coming up within the semester.

Thank you.