USC Gould School of Law provides one of the nation’s longest-standing offerings in negotiation, mediation, and dispute resolution. Former USC Gould Dean Dorothy W. Nelson (1967-1979) first introduced mediation and arbitration materials into her courses in 1957 and served on the law school’s faculty until her appointment to the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in 1979. Judge Nelson was instrumental in developing and promoting dispute resolution education and practice in private and public sectors during her long and distinguished career. Her leadership and contributions to dispute resolution education began long before it became popular in legal educational pedagogy.
Judge Nelson's legacy continues today with the USC Gould Center for Dispute Resolution which offers cutting-edge dispute resolution education, and whose students come from diverse backgrounds, varied experience, and diverse perspectives. The Center’s students include judges, lawyers, law students, undergraduates, business owners, and executives, as well as professionals from fields such as education, human resources, military, public safety, medicine, real estate, entertainment, sports, IT, and others. The Center’s students represent more than 40 countries, providing a rich cross-cultural environment that enhances the values of equity and inclusion, as well as student learning and skill development.
By USC Gould Law Students in just the past year
Current or retired judges on the ADR Program advisory board
Of teaching arbitration and mediation at USC Gould
The MDR degree immerses students in immediately applicable legal approaches to dispute resolution, including negotiation, mediation and arbitration.
Format: Full-Time | Part-Time | On Campus
Eligibility: Bachelor’s Degree
Start: Fall | Spring
Our LLM in ADR is designed for law graduates interested in building strength as an advocate in ADR processes, including as a mediator or arbitrator.
Format: Full-Time | Part-Time | On Campus
Eligibility: JD, LLB or equivalent
Start: Fall | Spring
Our 12-unit standalone ADR certificate is ideal for professionals who want to advance their careers with specialized training in dispute resolution practices and skills.
Format: Part-Time | On Campus
Eligibility: Bachelor's Degree
Start: Fall or Spring
The online Dispute Resolution certificate prepares students with the tools and resources to meaningfully participate in mediation and arbitration matters
Format: Part-Time | Online
Eligibility: Bachelor's Degree
Start: Fall, Spring or Summer
Learn more: Dispute Resolution Certificate
At USC Gould School of Law, the Center for Dispute Resolution provides ample opportunity for students to gain hands-on training and professional experience in a range of skills, often in direct service to clients.
From in-class simulations to guest speakers and alumni panels, your professors at the Center prioritize experiential learning throughout your coursework, providing immediately applicable skills to help achieve your career goals. USC Gould also provides access to workshops, externships, competitions, networking events and one-on-one guidance for developing your career during your time as a student and beyond.
Our award-winning faculty bring decades of experience and expertise in dispute resolution, supporting students in both academic and professional development.
Former USC Gould School Dean Dorothy W. Nelson was the only woman on the law school faculty when she introduced mediation and arbitration to her courses in 1957. At the time, her groundbreaking move didn't earn much praise from colleagues. In 2019, Judge Nelson was honored with a lecture series established in her name.
USC Gould Lecturer in Law Jack R. Goetz is the president of MC3, a multi-state nonprofit that certifies mediators for public quality assurance. With extensive experience which includes serving as the academic lead for mediation training programs at universities as well as serving as the 2018 president of the Southern California Mediation Association, Goetz discusses the work of MC3 – and USC Gould’s contributions – to setting professional standards in the field.
USC Gould is a leader and pioneer in ADR education, with an innovative legacy going back more than 60 years. Today, the law school’s dispute resolution programs train students from across the United States and around the world. Our mediation-focused clinics help resolve hundreds of cases each year, and our JD, LLM in ADR, MDR, and ADR certificate students help improve people’s lives through their work, from special education and family conflicts to employment disputes and disability rights cases.
Dean and Carl Mason Franklin Chair in Law, USC Gould School of Law
The Center for Dispute Resolution offers students ample opportunity to attend professional conferences and speaker series to learn from some of the field's leading practitioners.
Read stories and news about alternative dispute resolution faculty, students, and alumni in our ADR newsletter! Subscribe to our mailing list today to receive the latest USC Gould ADR news, including the ADR Quarterly.
The Gould Dispute Resolution Society (GDRS) is a student organization focused on creating and promoting educational and practical experiences in dispute resolution, while also facilitating networking opportunities to help students build relationships with professionals in the field. The GDRS works to help develop professionals who can masterfully use the dispute resolution process, in all its forms, to benefit clients, the legal community and society as a whole. USC Gould students are invited to join the Gould Dispute Resolution Society to further promote educational and networking opportunities.
Earn a master's degree or certificate from a top-ranked law school with a 120-year history and reputation for academic excellence.
is one of the fastest-growing fields
Convenient and flexible scheduling 
Scholarships offered Diverse, enriching learning environment
Receive career and professional support
Become a Member of CIArb, one of the world's most recognized credentials in arbitration 
Create new career opportunities Join the Trojan Family
Gain hands-on practical skill development 
