Peter Reilly (Texas A&M) directed the panel to discuss where mediation is going. Erin Archerd (Detroit Mercy) Is restorative justice different than mediation or really mediation itself?  Like mediation, it is a part of “peace making,” and like mediation we need to ask ourselves whether the process has been lessened in the name of results.  … Continue reading Worries and Hopes as We Look to the Future →

Michael Greene (Texas A&M) posed questions to each panelist to get them started, and their remarks are below. Lisa Blomgren Amsler (Indiana) She started with a discussion of the dispute system design process in general, discussing stakeholders, processes and structures, context and culture, resources, as well as all kinds of implicit assumptions with each which … Continue reading Different Frames for Assessing What Mediation Provides →

Cynthia Alkon (Texas A&M) moderated this program and started with this simple question – why are you bullish on mediation? Jim Alfini (South Texas) He is generally positive because mediation has been able to thrive in all kinds of environments, for example the move to Zoom during the pandemic was swift and smooth.  And now … Continue reading Bullish on Mediation →

Here is my summary of Nancy Welsh’s (Texas A&M) opening remarks. After a historical overview of mediation from biblical times to the founding of the modern mediation movement, she offered several questions illustrating the diversity of mediation.  What does mediation look like – how is it structured, who are the mediators, where do they take … Continue reading Setting the Stage →

I’m happy to be at Texas A&M School of Law (Howdy !)* as a part of their annual Aggie Dispute Resolution Symposium.  This year’s program is titled Two Faces of Mediation: Reasons for Worry, Reasons for Hope.  Look for a blog post or two (dare I say live blog?) memorializing the proceedings. * If you’ve … Continue reading The Two Faces of Mediation: Reasons for Worry, Reasons for Hope →

Last month, I blogged here about an important rule change that the SEC approved for FINRA Dispute Resolution. After years of debate about the potential harm to investors by allowing non-attorneys to represent investors in securities arbitration and mediations, FINRA proposed barring them from its forum, if they are compensated. [See the prior post for … Continue reading SEC Stays Its Order Approving FINRA Rule Change Barring Compensated Non-Attorney Representation →

I am happy to announce that Sheila Heen (Harvard) will deliver the 7th Annual Bruce E. Meyerson Lecture, titled Difficult Conversations in Polarizing Times, on Monday March 11, 2024 at 7pm at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University.  If you are in Phoenix for Spring Break or Spring Training, please … Continue reading Sheila Heen to Deliver the 7th Annual Meyerson Lecture at Arizona State →

Groups of students in your classes may want to put their new collaborative skills and creativity into the service of others by entering a new student video contest, sponsored by the AAA-ICDR Foundation and the Divided Community Project’s #CampusBridge initiative. Please spread the word in your classes and share the contest announcement with your university’s … Continue reading Amazing Opportunity for Students to Improve Their Communities Using DR Skills →