Overview

The basic skills and theory of dispute resolution are offered through the Gould Negotiation and Mediation Program and closely related courses that make up the core Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) curriculum at Stanford. Other Stanford Law School courses offer more specialized negotiation, mediation, or other dispute resolution opportunities.

The core ADR program at Stanford Law School includes seven sections of the Negotiation Seminar; two sections of Advanced Negotiation Seminar; a Mediation Seminar; an Interdisciplinary Seminar in Conflict and Negotiation; and courses on Alternative Dispute Resolution, Conflict Resolution System Design, and Problem Solving, Decision Making and Professional Judgment.

The Negotiation and Mediation Program seminars are always small (no more than 20 students each), to maximize the opportunity for students to exercise their ethical judgment, dispute resolution skills, and personal style. The core courses are taught through simulated problems, so that students can develop their skills, and integrate the appropriate theory into their behavior.

All of the simulation-based courses are taught in small seminars by the seven faculty members of the Negotiation and Mediation Teaching Team. More than 240 Stanford Law students mix theory and practice in these seminars annually.

Most of the Negotiation and Mediation courses are taught at the Gould Center. The informal atmosphere at Gould provides a flexible, multi-use environment where students can practice, be videotaped, and debrief their experiences. The Negotiation and Mediation Teaching Team's upstairs offices and the Gould Center's conference rooms often become classrooms so that students can negotiate and mediate in a realistic environment.

Other Stanford Law School courses that offer opportunities to develop in the area of dispute resolution include the Civil Justice Clinic, Deals, Education Advocacy Clinic, Environmental Clinic, Federal Litigation, and International Business Transactions.