Mediation Clinic - Advanced
| L02.2539/2540 Professor Sarah E. Burns Professor Ray Kramer Open to 3L and 2L students Maximum of 16 students |
Spring semester 5 Credits* Pre-requisite: Satisfactory completion of Mediation Clinic in Fall 2008 or Fall 2009. |
The Purpose of the Mediation Clinic- Advanced
The Advanced Mediation Clinic is focused on the formal study of dispute system design and on understanding the design choices made by, and the challenges presented to, mediation and other alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services programs in various contexts. The clinic is also designed to enhance the basic mediation skills learned in the Mediation Clinic, while continuing to orient students to major issues in the intersection between law and informal dispute resolution.
Course Description
This advanced course is designed to promote understanding of mediation and ADR on a systemic level, and to teach basic dispute system design skills, conflict needs assessment tools and problem-solving skills, while continuing to foster students’ individual mediation skills. Because the course is based upon an experiential learning model, attendance and participation are essential. The Spring course, which will only be open to students who have taken the Mediation Clinic in either Fall 2008 or Fall 2009, is designed to give students fieldwork experience with different mediation and other ADR contexts.
The Seminar
The Spring seminar meets once a week for two hours with a focus upon identifying and resolving issues arising 1) in design, regulation and delivery of mediation or ADR services and 2) during actual mediations. Students will be required to identify and monitor a specific ADR service-delivery setting and report upon observations in class. In final satisfaction of the spring seminar requirements students complete two short (5-10 pages) or one long (10-20 pages) individual research paper(s) on an issue in mediation or ADR service delivery. Students may propose paper topics to satisfy the substantial writing credit, which work may be completed with the professors’ approval as Directed Research.
Fieldwork
For Spring fieldwork, the Clinic will partner with ADR and mediation client organizations to study their dispute design system choices and the challenges presented to them, and where requested, to assist by conducting conflict needs assessments, design a new dispute system or evaluate an existing one, and help build or implement design system recommendations. For Spring 2009, clinic students worked on projects involving the NYU Residential Education Conflict Management Program, NMO and a pilot conflict project with the City schools. Fieldwork will also include continued residence and employment mediation as opportunities arise. Students may also have the opportunity to mediate in other venues, such as Family Court, contingent on students undertaking additional specialized mediation training.
As part of the guided learning, students will be required to submit biweekly journal entries reflecting upon their observations and experiences in field work, mediation and training.
Application Procedure
Students who wish to apply to the Advanced Mediation Clinic should submit via CAMS the standard application, résumé and unofficial transcript. Please contact Mr. Ivey at 212-998-6474 or via email if you have any questions.
Student Contacts
Interested students might wish to contact current or former Clinic students, including:
| Advanced Mediation - Spring 2009 | Advanced Mediation - Spring 2008 |
| Elana Cooper Andrew Dansker Jillian Haynal Karen Kiewe Emily Kindler Caroline Nagy Miles Orton Sara Raisner Joanna Smith |
Bobbie Andelson Liron Brish Carl Duffield Ron Hagiz Catherine Hammack Michael Joseph S.Moran Alexander Rea Nadya Salcedo |
* 5 credits includes 3 clinical (fieldwork) credits and 2 academic credits in Spring 2009.