Tag Archives: For Teachers and Students

What is (A)DR About?

Does ADR include trials? I know, I know. This sounds like another one of my dumb questions. Although I have a pretty broad conception of DR, my initial reaction was that trial is one of the few procedures I would exclude from DR. As described below, on reflection, I probably would include trials. More importantly, … Continue reading What is (A)DR About?

Student Writing Competition About Ferguson and Related Events

My colleague, S.I. Strong, is coordinating a student writing competition about the events in Ferguson as follows: The University of Missouri is sponsoring a student writing competition analyzing the events in Ferguson (and elsewhere) from a dispute resolution / conflicts resolution perspective, as described on the competition website.  The deadline is relatively soon — February … Continue reading Student Writing Competition About Ferguson and Related Events

Is Legal Education a Zombie?

Lately, we have talked about Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Prince Charming, fairy godmothers, aristocrats, wicked witches, mutant children, beasts, step-sisters, cooks, doctors, firefighters, and boy scouts. (Note several different links.)  Now zombies, black holes, frogs, and more junior royalty.   My colleague, Rafael Gely, recently sent an email to folks in our Center about the work … Continue reading Is Legal Education a Zombie?

Some Good Questions

In 1998, commenting on the hot controversy about the “Rand Report’s” finding that certain mediation programs did not save time or money (measured in terms of lawyers’ work hours), Professor Craig McEwen argued that it was the wrong question to ask whether “mediation works.” Critics of the Report had argued that its methodology led to … Continue reading Some Good Questions

Some Puffing Sucks . . . But Developing Good Relationships Is More Likely to be Effective than a New Rule

“Oh Boy! A fight.” That’s often what I say in class when students vigorously disagree.  I like these “fights” because they usually lead to helpful discussions that clarify differing views. So when Andrea wrote her post, Puffing Sucks, I thought, “Oh Boy! A fight.” She argues that puffing is “[l]ying, through and through,” and that … Continue reading Some Puffing Sucks . . . But Developing Good Relationships Is More Likely to be Effective than a New Rule

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