Lodestar Mediation Clinic
The Lodestar Mediation Clinic, an integral component of the nationally recognized Lodestar Dispute Resolution Center, provides students the opportunity to learn about alternatives to litigation while gaining practical experience about the mediation process. Student attorneys experience an intensive training program focusing on the theory, strategy, and skills involved in the mediation of legal disputes, then act as mediators in civil (non-family) cases.
What students do:
- Act as neutral third parties who help Justice Court litigants attempt to resolve their lawsuits before trial.
- Shadow and co-mediate with professional mediators from the EEOC and private practice.
- Shadow judges in judicial settlement conferences.
Course information
The Mediation Clinic is a one-semester course.
- Credits: four graded credits
- Students will have the option of completing their graduation writing requirement through the Mediation Clinic by enrolling in a one-credit independent study. Registration instructions will be provided to those interested during the first week of classes.
- Enrollment is limited to 6 students.
- Students will undergo and must be able to pass a background check per Maricopa County Court regulations.
- No course pre or co requisites.
Time commitment
- Students are expected to spend a minimum of 180 hours of clinical work during the one semester
- Students must attend a three-day pre-semester training program.
- Classes meet twice weekly. Students must block out two 4 hour time periods during the week for mediation sessions - morning preferred.
- No externships during the semester
- You will need to be available for training during the week prior to classes beginning. The training is required and the day and time will be announced prior to start of classes.
Student Applications Dates for Clinic:
Spring 2022:
Applications: September 24th through October 24th, 2021
Offers extended to students: October 29th, 2021
Student acceptances due: November 1st, 2021 by 5 pm
Summer/Fall 2022:
Application period: January X - February X, 2022
Offers extended to students: February X, 2022
Student acceptances due: March X, 2022 by 5 pm
**IMPORTANT!* - Pursuant to the Statement of Student Policies, Clinics – Students who have applied for a clinic and have been accepted may decline upon offer without consequence. However, once a student has accepted a clinic offered, any student who drops the clinic without prior approval by the dean’s designee will be subject to the 12-month ban.
Students may apply via Atlas during the application period listed above.