Appropriate Dispute Resolution

Facilitating disputes, negotiations, deals, and group decision-making.

Conflict is a natural part of life—and individuals, organizations, and communities can only succeed if they have the skills to manage disagreements effectively.  

You will learn critical skills to resolve disputes through Oregon Law's nationally-ranked, award-winning Appropriate Dispute Resolution (ADR) Center. Hands-on experience also will help you facilitate negotiations, deals, and group decision-making. With a strong emphasis on identifying the most appropriate way to resolve a dispute—which sometimes may be litigation—ADR at Oregon Law teaches the breadth of resolution options available in light of the client's needs and circumstances. 


ADR Concentration

 

Either through individual courses or completing an optional alternative dispute resolution law concentration, students can gain expertise in a variety of different areas of law.

Current students may review the concentration requirements and forms on MyLaw.

 


Alumni Highlight — Kouang Chan, JD ‘15/CRES

DIRECTOR AND STUDENT OMBUDSPERSON,
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS

Kouang assists students in navigating university structure and policies at University of Texas at Austin. He provides systemic policy and procedure feedback to the office of the president and conducts campus workshops and presentations on negotiation, communication, and conflict management.

“The ADR/CRES concurrent degree offering provided an opportunity to explore other areas of the legal field I would never have imagined, such as consulting, facilitation, nonprofit,  community organizing—ultimately leading me to my current position.”

 


Careers

Alternative dispute resolution seeks to empower lawyers and others to manage complex interactions inside and outside the traditional litigation setting. Negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and many other alternative approaches fall under the ADR umbrella.

Common ADR-related careers include:

  • Lawyer
  • Settlement Judge
  • Arbitrator
  • Mediator
  • Ombudsperson
  • Human Resources Professional

Academics

Sample of ADR Coursework

FIRST YEAR (1L) (Assigned)

Torts
Contracts
Civil Procedure
Constitutional Law I
Criminal Law
Property

SECOND YEAR (2L)

Required and recommended bar prep courses
Constitutional Law II
Business Associations
Evidence
Mediation
Alternative Dispute Resolution Survey
Arbitration
Environmental Conflict Resolution

THIRD YEAR (3L)

Required and recommended bar prep courses
Commercial Law
Legal Profession
Federal Judicial Settlements
Negotiation
Race, Gender, Bias, and the Law
The Palestinian/Israeli Conflict
Dispute Systems Design

Concurrent Degree Options


ADR Projects

  • ADR Center
  • ABA ADR Directory
  • Oregon Office for Community Dispute Resolution
  • 1L Fellowship: ADR
  • Environmental Conflict Resolution Fellowship (co-sponsored by the ENR Center)
  • ECR Stipend

Practical Experience

Type of available practical experiences

FIRST YEAR (1L)

Legal Research and Writing

SECOND YEAR (2L)

Interviewing and Counseling
Nonprofit Clinic

THIRD YEAR (3L)

Trial Practice
ADR Field Placement

 


Professional Development

At Oregon Law, we take your future seriously. As a law student, you will take a required professional development seminar your first year.

You will also receive individualized, tailored professional development coaching from a professional who will guide you to make strong career choices throughout your time at Oregon Law.

FIRST YEAR (1L)
Professional Development Seminar
Explore ADR practice areas
Meet with career counselor
Join UO Law Linkedln group
Apply for summer field placements
SECOND YEAR (2L)
Narrow career exploration to specific employers/locations
Seek out networking opportunities
ADR summer field placements
THIRD YEAR (3L)
Apply for jobs and post-JD opportunities

Extracurriculars

FIRST YEAR (1L)

Participate in Basic Mediation Training
Participate in Public Police Collaborative Governance Facilitation Training
Join ADR Student Group

SECOND YEAR (2L)

Participate in workshops, symposia, conferences, and prominent guest visits
Participate in Moot Court negotiation competition
Participate in Probate Mediation Training
Participate in the Plea Bargaining Workshop

THIRD YEAR (3L)

Join the ADR section of the Oregon State Bar as student member

Faculty Highlight — Jen Reynolds

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
JD CUM LAUDE, HARVARD LAW SCHOOL

Professor Jen Reynolds smiling at the camera with redwood and green foliage in background

Professor Reynolds teaches civil procedure, conflict of laws, negotiation, and mediation. Her research interests include dispute systems design, problem-solving in multiparty scenarios, plea bargaining and specialty courts, and cultural influences and implications of alternative processes.

She is an award-winning teacher who serves as the Faculty Director of the Oregon ADR Center and has had leadership roles in the ABA Dispute Resolution Section and the ADR Section of the Association of American Law Schools.