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About USC Gould
USC Gould is a top-ranked law school with a 120-year history and reputation for academic excellence. We are located on the beautiful 228-acre USC University Park Campus, just south of downtown Los Angeles.
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Academics
Learn about our interdisciplinary curriculum, experiential learning opportunities and specialized areas.
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Admissions
USC Gould helps prepare you for a stellar legal career. You can pursue a JD degree, one of our numerous graduate and international offerings, or an online degree or certificate.
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Students
Participate in an unparalleled learning experience with diversity of people and thought. Get involved in the law school community and participate in activities that enhance your studies.
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Careers
We work closely with students, graduates and employers to support successful career goals and outcomes. Our overall placement rate is consistently strong, with 94 percent of our JD class employed within 10 months after graduation.
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Faculty
Our faculty is distinguished for its scholarship, as well as for its commitment to teaching. Our 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio creates an intimate and collegial learning environment.
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Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Certificate - MDR
USC Gould School of Law
- DEGREES
- CERTIFICATES
- + AREAS OF CONCENTRATION
- ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION
- BUSINESS LAW
- MEDIA, ENTERTAINMENT AND TECHNOLOGY LAW
- PUBLIC INTEREST LAW
- + EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
- UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS
- CORPORATE AND CUSTOM EDUCATION
- + NON-DEGREE PROGRAMS
- ACADEMIC CALENDAR
- COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
- BAR ADMISSIONS
Earning a certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in addition to your MDR degree gives you a thorough grounding in ADR processes and hands-on experience in managing conflicts between parties. It also offers you a credential that demonstrates your specialized training in this growing field.
Students are limited to pursuing one certificate with their degree.
Certificate Requirements
To earn the certificate, you must take at least 12 units of mandatory and elective courses as outlined below. The two mandatory courses are only offered in the fall semester.
The ADR courses emphasize the importance of acquiring both strong legal skills and familiarity with business concepts. The curriculum features a combination of lecture-style and skill-based courses that are taught in a workshop format.
Mandatory Courses
- ADR Ethics
- ADR Law and Policy, Arbitration and Mediation
Elective Courses (8 or more units)
- ADR Clause Drafting
- Arbitration Advocacy
- Arbitration in the United States
- Cross-Cultural Dispute Resolution
- Divorce & Family Mediation
- Employment Dispute Mediation
- International Arbitration
- International Business Negotiations
- International Investment Law and Arbitration
- International Negotiation and Mediation
- Labor Arbitration
- Mediation Advocacy
- Negotiation Theory and Application
- Organizational Conflict
- Organizational Ombuds
- Special Education Law Dispute Resolution
Not all courses are offered every year. Courses are open to all students, not just those pursuing a certificate. You must earn a cumulative grade point average of 2.6 in your certificate coursework to earn the ADR certificate.
RECENT NEWS

USC Gould Law Library showcases ‘rejuvenating power of music’
June 2, 2023
Performances feature LA Philharmonic concertmaster, saxophone quartet

‘The Best Beloved Thing is Justice’
June 1, 2023
New book by Gould alum Lisa Kloppenberg celebrates life of Judge and former Dean Dorothy W. Nelson

USC Gould Title IX trailblazer works to put more women in leadership roles
May 30, 2023
"If we can continue moving forward, the future is very bright," says Associate Dean Nickey Woods