The Certificate Program is designed for law students who wish to acquire an in-depth knowledge of alternative dispute resolution and who are willing to commit the time and effort necessary to achieve a level of specialization in their legal education. The Certificate Program provides students the opportunity to graduate from law school with a credential recognizing their concentration and accomplishment in this field. Because we believe specialization in law school should not come at the expense of a well-rounded legal education, we require students in the Certificate Program to complete 95 hours compared to 90 credit hours for students outside the Certificate Program. In most cases, this additional credit load can be completed within the normal three academic years of law school.

Upon successful completion of the certificate program, the certificate is noted officially on the student's transcript.

If you wish to pursue a certificate program, you must notify the Associate Dean of the School of Law as soon as you decide to do so, but in no case later than the beginning of your second year of law school.

Alternative Dispute Resolution Certificate Requirements:

1. Earn a total of 95 credits (five credits more than required for the J.D.)
   
   
2. Take the following courses:
• Pre-Trial Advocacy
• Civil Procedure I
• Civil Procedure II
• Evidence
• Trial Practice
• Basic ADR course
  
  
3. Take six credits from the following certificate elective courses:
• Advanced & Family Mediation
• Negotiation
• Natural Resources Dispute Resolution
• Independent and Advanced ADR Studies (Students, in a small group setting or as an independent study, have taken advanced ADR studies in topics ranging from "advanced family dispute resolution," "arbitration," and "advanced mediation." Students may arrange to take ADR courses in topics of interest by arrangement with faculty for up to 3 credits (except Independent Study, which is limited to 2 credits)).
  
  
4. Take at least four credits from the following clinical and skills courses:
• Mediation Clinic
• Negotiation Team (Only two credits of Negotiation Team may count towards satisfaction of the ADR Certificate Clinical and Skills Courses. All students who count 2 credits of Negotiation Team towards completion of the clinical and skills courses requirement must nevertheless complete a minimum of 4 clinical credits in order to earn a J.D.)
  
  
5. Successfully complete the advanced writing requirement in an area addressing an alternative dispute resolution topic. To qualify for an ADR Certificate, the Advanced Writing Requirement must incorporate a substantial ADR component. To assure that a Third-Year Writing Assignment satisfies this requirement, the student must receive approval of the proposal by the Associate Dean's designate. The Associate Dean's designate is to review the writing topic and the final writing of every certificate program student.