Overview & Classes
A Comprehensive ADR Curriculum
The focus of the Frank Evans Center for Conflict Resolution is educating students in both the theoretical foundations and practical applications of dispute resolution processes such as negotiation, mediation, and arbitration. The center sponsors and administers a variety of programs and projects, including classes, trainings clinical opportunities, and dispute resolution competitions.
Currently, South Texas Law offers eight ADR-related courses, including a mediation clinic and a 40-hour basic mediation training that students take alongside practicing attorneys. In addition, the center sponsors teams for numerous ADR competitions annually with the focus on advocacy in negotiation and mediation. In recent years, the Evans Center has achieved national recognition for launching innovative experiential opportunities for law students across the country, including the renowned Inter-school Negotiation Practicum involving almost 2,400 students from 44 law schools.
Stats at a Glance
- 23 first place national and international ADR competition wins in recent years
- 17 full-time and part-time faculty and competition coaches
- 8 ADR courses offered
- 2,384 students have participated in the South Texas Law Inter-School Negotiation Practicum since fall 2019
- 60 students tried out at the 9th Annual ADR Intramural Tournament in 2021
- 100 students, on average, receive their 40-hour mediation certificate per year
- 83 EEOC mediation cases have been handled by South Texas Law mediation students, resulting in $586,100 in monetary settlements
- 18 teams participated in the 7th Annual STCL Houston Energy Law Negotiation Competition in 2022
Innovative Classes & Certificate
The law school offers a comprehensive ADR curriculum. With education in the core dispute resolution courses, students are provided the necessary legal knowledge and practical skills training to competently and expertly represent clients. Of note, students in the mediation classes are provided the unique experiential opportunity of mediating real cases. Specifically, students participate in at least five mediations of actual state and federal lawsuits, some of which are still pending. Students receive the relevant court documents to use in preparation for the mediations including complaints, motions, depositions, etc.
ADR courses:
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Arbitration
- Collaborative Family Law (2-day intersession with lawyers)
- Mediation Clinic
- Mediation Practice* (5-day intensive mediation training with lawyers)
- Mediation Theory and Practice*
- Negotiation for Litigators
- Trends in ADR and Litigation Seminar
Mediation certificate
Obtain a 40-hour mediation certificate by completing one of the following:
3-credit Mediation Theory and Practice class during fall/spring; or Mediation Practice
*Students may not take both mediation classes because they are nearly identical. The major differences are that Mediation Practice meets over five intensive days and is pass/fail.
For more information about the Frank Evans Center, email Prof. Debra Berman at dberman@stcl.edu or call (713) 646-2997.
