Curriculum - Alternative Dispute Resolution Certificate

ADR Ethics provides students, lawyers and professional neutrals with an in-depth examination of the rules guiding behavior in various dispute resolution processes.

This course explores the origin, development and practice of mediation, arbitration and other forms of ADR, emphasizing the policies underlying these increasingly significant and evolving areas.

Arbitration Advocacy introduces the basic approaches to preparing and presenting cases in the arbitration context.

This course brings an international perspective to understanding the impact of culture in the most commonly used international and domestic dispute resolution practices (negotiation, mediation and arbitration).

Directed Research projects reflect substantial independent research and study in the area of ADR and under the direction of an ADR instructor which result in meaningful written work, generally 10 to 15 pages per unit of credit. Students may enroll in 1 to 4 units. Units earned are not counted by the State Bar of NY toward the NY Bar Exam requirements.

International Arbitration examines methods of dispute resolution used in other countries and compares them to those employed in the United States.

This course instills a greater in-depth understanding of the key issues and legal questions that arise in international business dispute resolution.

This course explores the legal system in the United States and the distinctive process and methods of American law. It examines the basic structure and operation of government in the United States, particularly the judicial branch, and focuses on the American method of making, finding and enforcing law. It also provides a basic understanding of the historical context in which the legal system in the United States developed and highlights the foundational values of American law, such as due process and equality.

Labor Arbitration explores the National Labor Relations Act, collective bargaining and the labor arbitration process. Students also prepare labor arbitration briefs.

Mediation Advocacy examines the process of mediation, explores the philosophical approaches to mediation and different styles of mediating, develops a working knowledge of the stages of mediation, and cultivates skills essential to becoming effective advocates throughout each stage of the process.

Provides the analytical framework to explore the various theories, practices, ethical issues and policies of mediation, as well as the mediation process itself. Highly interactive and participatory, with most class sessions devoted to mediation role plays or group exercises, this course prepares students to mediate in a variety of settings. The course is designed to satisfy mediator training requirements under the California Dispute Resolution Programs Act as well as recent initiatives launched by the Los Angeles Superior Court.

Examines origin and types of conflicts that arise within organizations. Includes designing systems to prevent conflict from developing or escalating, as well as developing a culture of collaboration and creativity.

In this clinic, LLM in ADR and Master of Dispute Resolution students learn the dispute resolution skills required to become mediators and use those skills to mediate actual cases in the California court system or in another mediation context or setting.