Dispute Resolution Board

The Dispute Resolution Board (“DR Board”) is an academic organization whose purpose is to increase awareness of alternative dispute resolution (“ADR”) and to facilitate the development of ADR skills within the law school community. The DR Board works to expand opportunities for students to develop important dispute resolution skills by connecting law students with ADR practitioners, supporting ADR training opportunities, and hosting ADR guest speakers and networking events.

In addition, the DR Board administers the ABA Law Student Division competitions in Negotiation, Client Counseling, and Mediation Advocacy by organizing in-house competitions in the fall and spring of each academic year. Competitions provide students with an opportunity to learn about effective ways to resolve client disputes through negotiation and mediation, and to receive feedback on their performance skills from lawyers and other practitioners who evaluate them. The DR Board prepares the winners of in-house competitions to compete in regional and national ABA competitions. Participants who compete in at least the regional level of a nationally-recognized dispute resolution competition may receive one (1) hour of ungraded academic credit upon certification by the faculty advisor to the specific competition that the participant has satisfactorily performed the duties of team membership.

Membership on the DR Board is determined by current Board members and is based on written statements of interest, resumes, and interviews of candidates. The Board selects new members each year during fall and spring semesters.