On behalf of the AALS ADR section, I am happy to let everyone know that the section is delighted to be a supporting partner of the inaugural IntLaw Investment Arbitration Moot, taking place at the International Arbitration Centre in London in 18-22 February 2027. This is a new international competition for law students. As noted … Continue reading IntLaw Investment Arbitration Moot–new competition!
The China and ADR Design series, organized by Rick Bales (Ohio Northern), explores developments and innovations in Chinese arbitration and what we can learn about them here in the US. The posts examine a range of topics, from the growth of arbitration institutions to the use of artificial intelligence, with a focus on the larger … Continue reading Crowdsourced ODR
There has been a lot of discussion about whether artificial intelligence (AI) will help or harm law students. The National Law Review’s article, The 2026 Top 50 Legal Innovators in Academia, provides a useful contribution to this discussion. The article describes faculty and administrators at law schools across the country who are teaching students how … Continue reading How Law Schools Are Teaching Students to Use AI Responsibly
This call for papers just landed in my inbox, so I thought I’d pass it along in case it’s of interest to others. I don’t recall the Harvard Negotiation Law Review having issued a call for papers before, but I may be mistaken. One thing I did notice is that they no longer appear to … Continue reading Call for Papers: Harvard Negotiation Law Review – Due Jan. 4, 2027
Conferences often produce engaging conversations and new connections. The best ones also produce ideas that continue to evolve and reach new audiences long after the final session ends. With that in mind, Eleni Kosta (Tilburg Law School, NL), Diana M. Bowman (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, AUS)*, and I are pleased to share a new white … Continue reading Tech-Trust Nexus: A White Paper on the Future of Online Dispute Resolution
Discussions about artificial intelligence (AI) often fall into simple, polarized stories. AI will bring great prosperity or bring the end of civilization. It enhances human capabilities or destroys them. People who use it are innovative – or lazy, dishonest, or intellectually deficient. People in the dispute resolution field should recognize this pattern. We have a … Continue reading Getting Beyond Simple Stories About AI
While non-administered or “ad hoc” arbitration is relatively common in the United States, China is just beginning to explore its use. This post explores the issues related to ad hoc arbitration in China. Ad Hoc Arbitration in ChinaWen DaiWhat happens when a legal system built almost entirely around arbitration institutions decides to let some parties … Continue reading Ad Hoc Arbitration in China
Another post in our series on arbitration evolution in China. This post explores the question of how far should a system move toward internationally familiar arbitration norms while retaining domestic institutional choices? China’s New Arbitration LawSong Lianbin and Huang Yi China’s first comprehensive rewrite of its Arbitration Law in thirty years changes more than technical … Continue reading Arbitration in China – How Distinct Should It Be From Existing Norms
Another blog in our series on Chinese arbitration! Can the Arbitrator Also Mediate? Jialin Li Many mediators and arbitrators are trained to keep those roles separate. A mediator may hear confidential information, test weaknesses, and float possible compromises; an arbitrator must decide on the record and remain visibly impartial. China has long been more willing … Continue reading Can the Arbitrator Also Mediate?
My colleague, Renee Henson, wrote an important new article, My Negotiation Chatbot Toby and Pedagogical Governance, about a chatbot that she developed for her first-year Lawyering: Problem-Solving and Dispute Resolution course at the University of Missouri Law School. Her article provides a thoughtful analysis of how faculty can use AI to improve legal education. It … Continue reading Meet Toby: Teaching and Learning with AI in Centaur Mode
