Instructor: Judge Dr. Eyad Alsamhan

Course Overvıew

Abraham Lincoln once wrote, “Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbours to compromise whenever they can. Point out to them how the nominal winner is often a real loser in fees, expenses, and waste of time. As a peacemaker the lawyer has a superior opportunity of being a good man [or woman]. There will still be business enough.” Over the past few decades, the legal profession has more seriously begun to heed his advice, as increasingly more attorneys and their clients see the value of mediation. Mediation is a way to resolve disputes outside of the courtroom, often in a more efficient, less costly, and more satisfying process. Through mediation, an impartial person (the mediator) helps facilitate dialogue between the parties and assists them in working toward a resolution.

This course is designed to:

1. give students an overview of the practice of mediation and negotiation;
2. introduce common mediation & negotiation theories; and
3. provide mediation skills training and experience. Through readings, class discussion, simulations, research, and other activities, this course aims to enhance your understanding of mediation and negotiation theories, build mediation skills, and develop a greater capacity to communicate, to empathize, and to resolve conflict. By combining theory and practice, the course gives you the opportunity to experiment with the ideas discussed in class, and provides opportunities to examine, evaluate, and learn from the experiences of others.

Course Syllabus

1. What Does Mediation Look Like?
2. What This Class is Really About
3. Conflict Overview
4. Three Types of Mediation
5. Mediation Process: Opening Statements

Assignment Due:“Three Questions”