Dispute Resolution Institute

The Dispute Resolution Institute offers a comprehensive curriculum in dispute resolution that is open to all NCCU School of Law students.

Through specialized coursework and practical learning opportunities, students develop the knowledge and skills necessary to help individuals, organizations, and communities address conflict effectively, ethically, and constructively.

The mission of the Dispute Resolution Institute is to advance the theory and practice of dispute resolution in pursuit of justice and reconciliation among individuals and groups experiencing conflict.

Consistent with NCCU School of Law’s unique history and commitment to service, the Institute critically examines whether evolving methods of conflict resolution protect the interests of economically disadvantaged, minority, and marginalized individuals and communities.

The Institute is committed to ensuring that alternatives to traditional litigation promote meaningful access to justice rather than create additional barriers. It also seeks to increase minority participation and leadership in the field of dispute resolution.

Students who complete at least ten credits of approved dispute resolution coursework may be eligible to receive a Certificate in Dispute Resolution or an Advanced Certificate in Dispute Resolution.

Certificate in Dispute Resolution
The Certificate in Dispute Resolution provides students with a focused foundation in dispute resolution theory, processes, and professional practice.

Advanced Certificate in Dispute Resolution
The Advanced Certificate in Dispute Resolution recognizes students who complete additional academic and experiential requirements in the field.

In 1999, the growing influence of mediation within the court system prompted NCCU School of Law to develop North Carolina’s first clinical program dedicated to training law students in alternative dispute resolution.

Launched in the spring of 2000, the Alternative Dispute Resolution Clinic provides future lawyers with hands-on experience in the art of mediation, often resulting in a faster, less expensive, and more satisfactory resolution to a legal issue for a client and the court system.

The Alternative Dispute Resolution Clinic is a one-semester program that provides students with the 40-hour training required of Superior Court mediators.

Students are initially paired with experienced mediators from Carolina Dispute Settlement Services to observe and participate in supervised co-mediations. As they gain experience, students may assume responsibility as lead mediators.

On average, each student handles at least six cases, which may include assault, communicating threats, larceny, trespassing, and domestic violence. Other legal cases that students may mediate include divorce cases, personal injury claims, and intellectual property. Students also learn other alternatives to litigation when they observe District Court Arbitration and attend Drug Treatment Court.

As cases continue to flood local courts, both clients and attorneys are driven to seek alternative methods for settling disputes. This continuing trend will likely impact the role of attorneys. As a result, the ADR Clinic exposes students to the expanding role of attorneys in defining problems in human rather than just legal terms, helping students to explore other forums within the court system for resolving conflicts. By the time students complete the ADR clinic, many often find that they are also pleased that they have helped alleviate the stress that the rising backlog of cases is imposing on the local legal system.

Through the Alternative Dispute Resolution Clinic, students develop skills in:

• Active and reflective listening
• Conflict assessment
• Mediation and negotiation
• Collaborative problem-solving
• Professional judgment
• Cultural awareness
• Ethical decision-making
• Client and participant communication

The Clinic also encourages students to identify the human dimensions of legal conflict and to consider whether forums outside traditional litigation may better serve the individuals involved.

As courts, attorneys, and clients increasingly seek alternatives to litigation, students gain valuable insight into the expanding role of lawyers as advocates, counselors, and problem-solvers.

Rick Igou
Email: [email protected]