Clients and society today need and expect much more than traditional advocacy from their lawyers. Modern lawyers need to be able to address legal problems in ways that accommodate a variety of needs, goals and values, in addition to vindicating legal rights. As a result, today’s lawyer must have the knowledge, skills and perspectives not only to advocate in the courtroom but to participate in such processes as client counseling, negotiation, mediation, arbitration and creative problem-solving.

The MU Certificate of Dispute Resolution is designed to foster such learning in JD students by providing the opportunity to work with some of the nation’s leading dispute resolution scholars and practitioners. The MU School of Law program is nationally ranked and has a significant number of full-time faculty specializing in dispute resolution. This certificate program will give JD students an advantage in addressing the complex challenges of today’s legal environment.

For non-JD students, an online graduate certificate combines a graduate-level academic experience with the development of professional skills related to dispute resolution. This certificate complements the course work of those enrolled in graduate degree programs such as an MBA, MPA or MHA. Click on the gray box below for full details.

Learning Outcomes for Dispute Resolution certificate

Students will:

• Understand the nature and causes of conflict as they relate to legal disputes and transaction negotiations
• Understand the theory and practice of dispute resolution approaches to lawyering and decision-making methods available for managing and resolving conflict in legal and transactional settings
• Develop cores skills in negotiation, mediation, arbitration that will enhance their abilities as future lawyers
• Recognize and evaluate ethical dilemmas that could arise in areas related to dispute resolution

For JD students

To receive a Certificate in Dispute Resolution from the MU School of Law, a J.D. student must take at least 12 credit hours of dispute resolution courses approved by the Law School. Eight of those credit hours are required core program courses and provide students with a basic understanding of the theory, skills and practice of dispute resolution. Students must take at least 2 additional elective courses from among the courses approved for the Certificate program.

Core Courses (8-9 Credit Hours)

• Lawyering: Problem Solving and Dispute Resolution 5095 (2)
• Negotiation 5810 (3)

One of the following skills courses:

• Arbitration 5350 (3)
• Mediation 5765 (3)
• Pre-trial Litigation (2-3)
• Trial Practice 5925 (3-4)

Elective Courses (2 courses taken from the following courses)

• Arbitration (not if taken as a core course) 5350 (3)
• Client Interviewing & Counseling 5420 (2)
• Comparative Dispute Resolution (SA) 6710 (2)
• Conflict & Conflict Management 5450 (3)
• Cross-Cultural Dispute Resolution 5485 (3)
• Deal Skills 5496 (3)
• Dispute Resolution in the Digital Age 5616 (3)
• Emotional Intelligence in Law 5537 (3)
• Family Law Dispute Resolution 5577 (3)
• Independent Research (on DR topic) 5875 (3)
• Insurance Claims Processing & Dispute Resolution 5637 (3)
• International Commercial Arbitration 5652 (3)
• Journal of Dispute Resolution 5680 (1-3)
• Mediation (not if taken as a core course) 5765 (3)
• Mediation Clinic 5770 (1-2)
• Public Policy Dispute Resolution 5840 (3)
• Pre-Trial Litigation (not if taken as a core course)
• Transnational Litigation 5923 (3)
• Trial Practice (not if taken as a core course) 5925 (3-4)
• Dispute System Design 6835 (3)
• Organizational Analysis & Change PA 8620 (3)*
• Organizational Dynamics & Leadership PA 8160 (3)*