Mediation skills are invaluable to success in everything from negotiating commercial transactions to family interactions. Lawyers mediate most litigated cases, even those never filed in court. Do you want to be in the majority of people who constantly mediate, but never take a single mediation course? This course is a quick immersion in mediation advocacy, and mediation. It is intended for those who want to avoid being entirely unprepared for an essential part of legal practice and life. It is also intended for those who want to take a first step to see if mediation interests them. The two days of class will be an interactive exploration of the strategies, tactics and theories of mediation, and mediation advocacy. Class will include: 1) a concise overview of mediation approaches and theories, 2) skills exercises, 3) mediation role plays, and (4) short writing assignments. Together these will allow students to think about, practice, and experiment with, the most effective approaches to mediation advocacy and mediation. The course will be taught by Howard Herman, a full-time mediator of complex cases with JAMS, and the former director of the ADR Program for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Elements used in grading: Attendance, Class Participation, and Short Writing Assignments. In Spring Quarter, this class will meet Friday, April LAW 26, 3:00PM-7:30PM, and Saturday, April LAW 27, 9:30AM-5:LAW 30 PM. This class is limited to LAW 15 students. CONSENT APPLICATION: To apply for this course, students must complete and submit a Consent Application Form available at https://law.stanford.edu/education/courses/consent-of-instructor-forms/. See Consent Application Form for instructions and submission deadline.
1 units · Law Mandatory P/R/F
Mediation skills are invaluable to success in everything from negotiating commercial transactions to family interactions. Lawyers mediate most litigated cases, even those never filed in court. Do you want to be in the majority of people who constantly mediate, but never take a single mediation course? This course is a quick immersion in mediation advocacy, and mediation. It is intended for those who want to avoid being entirely unprepared for an essential part of legal practice and life. It is also intended for those who want to take a first step to see if mediation interests them. The two days of class will be an interactive exploration of the strategies, tactics and theories of mediation, and mediation advocacy. Class will include: 1) a concise overview of mediation approaches and theories, 2) skills exercises, 3) mediation role plays, and (4) short writing assignments. Together these will allow students to think about, practice, and experiment with, the most effective approaches to mediation advocacy and mediation. The course will be taught by Howard Herman, a full-time mediator of complex cases with JAMS, and the former director of the ADR Program for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Elements used in grading: Attendance, Class Participation, and Short Writing Assignments. In Spring Quarter, this class will meet Friday, April 26, 3:00PM-7:30PM, and Saturday, April 27, 9:30AM-5:30 PM. This class is limited to 15 students. CONSENT APPLICATION: To apply for this course, students must complete and submit a Consent Application Form available at https://law.stanford.edu/education/courses/consent-of-instructor-forms/. See Consent Application Form for instructions and submission deadline.
Offered in Winter 2026 at Stanford University.