Dispute Resolution

Statistics now show that almost 95 percent of all legal cases are being settled prior to trial. In fact, many courts are beginning to require mediation and/or court annexed arbitration before a case can be tried. For these reasons, mediation, negotiation and arbitration skills are important competencies for law students to develop during their law school years. Students looking to gain expertise in these areas should consider Capital's alternative Dispute Resolution concentration.

Capital's Dispute Resolution program allows students to mix classroom work with practical opportunities. The concentration offers over 10 elective courses for students to choose from, with a number of additional courses currently in development. Among these courses is the Mediation Clinic which allows students to work with actual clients involved in cases through the municipal, small claims and juvenile courts. Additionally, Dispute Resolution students have the opportunity to select an externship with the Office of Dispute Resolution for the The Supreme Court of Ohio or the Ohio Commission on Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management.

Capital University Law School has a tradition of innovation and training in the area of alternative Dispute Resolution. The first program was the Columbus Night Prosecutor misdemeanor mediation program which was developed through the cooperation of Capital faculty, local prosecutors and police officers in 1971. In 1984, The Center for Dispute Resolution was established to raise awareness and use of dispute resolution skills and its applications to various industries.

Concentration Worksheet

For more information about the Dispute Resolution concentration, contact Professor Roberta Mitchell.