What is Negotiation?, Part 2

We often think of negotiation as a distinct and climactic phase of a dispute. Interactions leading up to the final settlement event are often considered merely as preparation, if that. In litigated cases, we often ignore the litigation as if it was largely irrelevant to the information available and the dynamics in negotiation. I base … Continue reading What is Negotiation?, Part 2

Professor Jill Gross to give Hopkins Lecture on Arbitration on November 12th

Our wonderful colleague and fellow blogger, Jill Gross, has been named the James D. Hopkins Professor of Law at Pace Law School. She will be giving a lecture on November 12, 2014 at noon at Pace, entitled, “Setting the Record Straight: The Supreme Court and 21st Century Arbitration”. We at the blog are very proud … Continue reading Professor Jill Gross to give Hopkins Lecture on Arbitration on November 12th

To Puff or Not to Puff . . . (or When and How to Puff)

I love teaching law students about misrepresentation in negotiation. I call this class, “lying like a lawyer.”   Of course, civilians (i.e., non-lawyers) regularly fudge the facts, let’s call it. While it might be nice if there were bright-line norms of scrupulous honesty that were universally followed, that’s never gonna happen.   I’m no expert … Continue reading To Puff or Not to Puff . . . (or When and How to Puff)

Newell on Redefining Attention

Lauren Newell (Ohio Northern) has published “Redefining Attention (and Revamping the Legal Profession?) for the Digital Generation” on SSRN. The abstract: With computers, text messages, Facebook, cell phones, smartphones, tablets, iPods, and other information and communication technologies (“ICTs”) constantly competing for our attention, we live in an age of perpetual distraction. Educators have long speculated … Continue reading Newell on Redefining Attention

Symposium at Cardozo Asking (and perhaps Answering) “Is Mediation a Sleeping Beauty?

Cardozo Law School and its Journal of Conflict Resolution are sponsoring the Jed D. Melnick Annual Symposium, “Is Mediation a Sleeping Beauty?”, on Monday, November 3, 2014 starting at 8:30 a.m.  The impressive line-up of speakers includes many friends of Indisputably, and topics for sessions include the age-old questions: “Is She Sleeping?”, “Is She Beautiful?”, … Continue reading Symposium at Cardozo Asking (and perhaps Answering) “Is Mediation a Sleeping Beauty?

What is Negotiation?, Part 1

I know that this sounds like another one of my dumb questions. But the meaning of negotiation is surprisingly opaque.  People have very different ideas about this.  And the definition you choose has important practical implications. I stumbled onto this problem as I studied and taught negotiation in recent years. In an article on negotiation … Continue reading What is Negotiation?, Part 1