UC Law SF Honored with Ninth Circuit 2018 ADR Education Award

The Ninth Circuit ADR Committee announced that UC Law SF is the winner of the 2018 Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Education Award for its instruction in mediation, negotiation and arbitration. Established in 2005 by the Judicial Council of the Ninth Circuit, the award recognizes institutions that have advanced ADR scholarship and teaching.

“I want to congratulate our Center for Negotiation and Dispute Resolution run by Director and Clinical Professor Sheila Purcell, and the rest of our faculty and staff who create programming and teach in the ADR space, including Clark Freshman, Carol Izumi, Gail Silverstein, Betsy Candler, Deb Gerardi, Clint Waasted, and many others on this wonderful news,” said Academic Dean Morris Ratner.

The Ninth Circuit Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee notified Chancellor & Dean David Faigman of the award by letter and noted it was “impressed with the law schools exemplary educational and clinical programs.” The Committee specifically singled out Center for Negotiation and Dispute Resolution (CNDR) by stating that the “outstanding conferences and educational programs at the Center for Negotiation and Dispute Resolution benefit ADR practitioners and court administrators in the United States and abroad.”

“This is really recognition not just for CNDR, but also for UC Law SF’ school-wide, cutting-edge educational efforts,” said Professor Purcell.

“The Center benefits greatly from being in the heart of the San Francisco and just steps from several Courts, including the Ninth Circuit, with strong ADR history and programming,” continued Professor Purcell. “I just can’t say enough about our programs and our school’s commitment to ADR education.”

Some the of the recent successes in ADR at UC Law SF have been the continued advancement of the Mediation Clinic where students are trained to handle actual cases from the Small Claims Court and the Fair Employment and Housing Department; the growth of the Negotiation and Mediation Team as the “team to beat” at both national and international competitions; the expansion of our world class faculty’s collaboration with non-profits, commercial ADR providers and government agencies to bring our students and practitioners a deep theoretical base in ADR policy and scholarship as well as real world practice opportunities; and Professor Izumi’s recognition from the Clinical Section of the AALS for lifetime achievement and service to clinical education as a pioneer in the field of mediation clinics.

“It has truly been a banner year for the College in this domain,” concluded Dean Ratner.

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