Conflict Resolution

#9 best Dispute Resolution program

– U.S. News & World Report, 2026

Conflict is everywhere. The best leaders know how to manage and resolve conflicts before they become major distractions or create negative consequences. Having the right perspective and effective problem-solving skills will make you an indispensable leader in your company and community.

The Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University's Master of Legal Studies, with an emphasis in conflict resolution, is designed to provide professionals with the skills and knowledge to navigate conflict in various circumstances and environments effectively.

Taught by experienced faculty and professionals, this program will provide you with a background in legal principles and analysis to lay the foundation for practical problem-solving strategies and conflict resolution techniques.

Professor Art Hinshaw talking with student during a Mediation clinic meeting.

Degree program

Graduation requirements

MLS graduation requirements (6 additional credits)

U.S. Law and Legal Analysis – 3 credits
Core MLS course – Torts, Contracts, Criminal Law, Administrative Law – 3 credits

Graduation Requirements – Conflict Resolution Emphasis Area – 18 credits

12 credit hours of conflict resolution study plus 6 credits required for the MLS degree

Sample coursework

Courses and topics that are part of the available curriculum:

U.S. Law and Legal Analysis
Conflict Theory - 3 credits
Negotiation - 3 credits
Mediation - 3 credits
Arbitration – 3 credits
Dispute Systems Design – 3 credits
Divorce and Family Mediation – 3 credits
Organizational and Workplace Dispute Resolution – 3 credits
Psychology of Conflict – 3 credits
And more

Lodestar Dispute Resolution Center

Legal education often centers on the trial and appellate process. However, only a small fraction of cases ever go to trial in the United States. For example, the Arizona Supreme Court reports that in 2017, of nearly two million civil and criminal cases filed in Arizona courts, 98.8 percent were resolved prior to trial. The Lodestar Center provides opportunities to develop expertise in the processes through which most legal matters are resolved: negotiation, mediation, and arbitration.

The Lodestar Dispute Resolution Center expands ASU Law’s efforts to understand the nature of conflict and its impact on the effectiveness of dispute resolution. Through research, teaching, and service, students, lawyers, and non-legal professionals learn the problem-solving methods and skills that lawyers and other conflict resolution professionals employ regularly to prevent and resolve disputes.

Learn more about the Center

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MLS Emphasis Areas

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