Applied law, debate & communication problem set
“Can your child use law, debate & communication thinking on a problem they have never seen?”
What they hand inWorked problems and short write-ups reviewed by the mentor each session.
Early sessionsPrograms / Law, Debate & Communication
Conference · Law, Debate & Communication
Harvard HPAIR Model United Nations - Virginia American School, Abu Dhabi
Step into international diplomacy at Virginia American School, Abu Dhabi, developing debate and negotiation skills with HPAIR. The HPAIR Model United Nations at Virginia American School, Abu Dhabi, brings together students in grades 6-12 to address complex global issues. Participants step into the roles of international diplomats, drafting resolutions and debating solutions to pressing world challenges. Delegates develop essential skills in public speaking, critical research, and strategic negotiation. They leave with a deeper understanding of international relations, practical consensus-building experience, and renewed confidence in their leadership abilities.
Next cohort starts Fri, 11 Dec 2026 · USD 450
Cohorts of Small live cohort
Length3 days
Cohort sizeSmall live cohort
EligibilityGrades 6–12 (11–17)
Live sessionsLive session times confirmed on registration · live on Zoom
What your child will actually do
Live, mentor-led sessions - worked problems and real output, not lectures.
1
Learn law, debate & communication the applied way
Step into international diplomacy at Virginia American School, Abu Dhabi, developing debate and negotiation skills with HPAIR. Every session is live and mentor-led, with discussion instead of lecture.
2
Work on something real each week
Across 3 days, students produce work rather than notes - cases, drafts, builds or analyses depending on the conference.
3
Get individual mentor feedback
Cohorts are kept small so mentors know each student by name and push them at the right level.
4
Finish with something to show
A final project or presentation your child can put in front of a university, a school or you.
Skills your child will gain
Named, practised skills - grouped the way universities read them, tied to how each is used in this conference.
Thinking & analysis
How your child breaks a problem down before touching it.
- Statutory reading
Practised on live problems in every session - never taught as theory.
- Policy research
Mentors make your child justify each step out loud before moving on.
Communication
Writing and speaking so an adult expert takes them seriously.
- Cross-examination
Rehearsed in front of a mentor and peers, then corrected on the spot.
- Public speaking
Written up each week and marked the way a specialist reader would mark it.
- Resolution writing
Tested in the final presentation, where the work has to stand on its own.
Working with people
Deadlines, teams, feedback - the habits universities and employers notice.
- Case briefs
Built through real deadlines and written mentor feedback.
- Diplomatic negotiation
Practised in small-team work with students your child has never met.
Projects they finish with
Sample briefs from recent cohorts - the actual work that comes out of the programme, not a syllabus.
The main project
“What is worth building in law, debate & communication in 3 days?”
What they hand inA finished conference project - the piece that goes into the portfolio.
Middle of the programmeFinal presentation
“Can they explain the work to someone who was not there?”
What they hand inA live presentation plus mentor feedback in writing.
Final sessionA position paper and committee record from the conference
A future-lawyer profile built on argument quality rather than debate trophies alone. By the end of Harvard HPAIR Model United Nations - Virginia American School, Abu Dhabi, the aim is simple: a written brief or mooting record, ideally with a competition placement.
What you end up holding
- A submitted position paper
- Conference participation record
- Committee work and resolution drafts
- Delegate recognition when awarded
What they'll take away
Conference participation recordA submitted position paperCommittee and resolution-writing experienceDelegate recognition when awarded
How this strengthens their university profile
The point isn't the certificate. It's the line a family can honestly write afterwards - and the artefact sitting behind it.
Before
"My child is interested in law, debate & communication."
Nothing an admissions officer can check.
After Harvard HPAIR Model United Nations - Virginia American School, Abu Dhabi
"My child completed Harvard HPAIR Model United Nations - Virginia American School, Abu Dhabi and finished a position paper and committee record from the conference."
A line with an artefact behind it.
Why this conference counts
Global perspective in practice. A conference asks students to research a country position, negotiate with peers, and speak under pressure in a formal committee setting.
A future-lawyer profile built on argument quality rather than debate trophies alone.
What a university can verify
- A submitted position paper
- Conference participation record
- Committee work and resolution drafts
- A submitted position paper
- Conference participation record
Upcoming cohorts
Fri, 11 Dec 20263 days · Grades 6–12December 2026
Live session times confirmed on registration
Session times shown in Dubai time (GMT+4) with US Eastern alongside. Fees are correct at time of publishing - confirm on the programme page.
Live mentors, every single session
Harvard HPAIR Model United Nations - Virginia American School, Abu Dhabi is taught live by mentors from leading universities and partner organisations - never pre-recorded. Small cohorts mean your child is spoken to by name, not counted in an audience.
Parents usually ask
Is my child the right age for this?
It is designed for Grades 6–12. No prior background is assumed - mentors calibrate to the cohort in the first session.
How much time does it take?
3 days in total, with live sessions live session times confirmed on registration plus light preparation in between. It is built to sit alongside school.
What if we miss a session?
Tell the team in advance and they will share the materials and arrange a catch-up so your child rejoins without falling behind.
How do we pay and confirm a place?
Places are confirmed on the Harvard HPAIR Model United Nations - Virginia American School, Abu Dhabi application page. Fees shown here are correct at time of publishing - always confirm on the programme page before paying.
Families looking at this also consider
⚖️ FellowshipFuture Lawyers FellowshipLegal reasoning, FIRAC case analysis, LSAT fundamentals, AI & the Law, and a live Moot Court simulation.Grades 8–12 · from 31 Oct⚖️ FellowshipYoung Debaters FellowshipStructured argumentation, rebuttal and public speaking through live debates, ending in a judged final competition.Grades 8–12 · from 12 Dec⚖️ ProgramCommunication & Leadership ProgrammeA Voice → Influence → Stage arc with a performance in every session, ending in a judged showcase in front of external judges and parents.Grades 6–12 · from 24 Oct
USD 450next cohort 11 Dec