Lodestar Dispute Resolution Center

#9 best Dispute Resolution program

Ahead of Stanford University, Columbia University and UCLA, U.S. News & World Report, 2026

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 2 million civil and criminal cases filed in Arizona courts, 99.2 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.

2025 Annual Report

Our judicial system is not a system of trials but a system of alternative means of resolution.

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

The Lodestar Center is a nationally recognized center of excellence in the field of dispute resolution. Its efforts in teaching, scholarship, and service have been recognized by the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (with the inaugural Ninth Circuit ADR Education Award in 2005 and again in 2019) and the International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution with 6 CPR Awards – 4 for Outstanding Professional Article (two to Research Director Dr. Roselle Wissler and two to Faculty Director Professor Art Hinshaw), one for the Outstanding Book Award (Hinshaw), and one for Professional Achievement for the Center’s Foreclosure Mediation Unit.

The Lodestar Center is consistently ranked highly nationally among law school dispute resolution programs by U.S. News & World Report 2026 “Best Graduate School” rankings and is currently ranked No. 9 in the nation.

Student opportunities

The Lodestar Center’s primary focus is to educate as many students as possible in dispute resolution theory, skills, and practice. Besides the courses listed below, students have access to externships at the Maricopa County Superior Court’s ADR Office, the Phoenix City Prosecutor’s Restorative Justice Project, and the Aurit Mediation Center. Students are also encouraged to take advantage of these additional programs and opportunities:

Lodestar Mediation Clinic

The Lodestar Mediation Clinic teaches students about alternatives to litigation while providing hands-on experience with the mediation process. Students begin the class with an intensive training program focusing on the theory, strategy, and skills involved in mediating legal disputes to provide the grounding to act as mediators for Justice Court litigants in an attempt to resolve civil cases before trial. Additionally, students co-mediate with professional mediators at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and shadow judges in judicial settlement conferences.

The Patel - Dauber Excellence in Negotiation Prize

This award, made possible by the generosity of alum Nick M. Patel (’92), honors ASU law students who have demonstrated excellence in negotiation during their time at the law school. The award commemorates Patel’s belief that negotiation is a critical skill for students to learn and Emeritus Professor Bob Dauber’s role in shaping Patel’s success as a negotiator.

Moot Court Competition Teams

Students can receive invaluable training by participating on teams for two high-profile competitions – the ABA Representation in Mediation Competition and the William C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot (Vis Moot). Students in the Representation in Mediation Competition work through the mediation process to further their client’s interests. Our Vis Moot teams represent business organizations through the international commercial arbitration process, engaging in both written and oral advocacy. They have regularly competed in San Diego, Vienna, and Hong Kong and are routinely recognized for their brief writing and advocacy skills. Be on the lookout for information announcing these competitions.

Dispute Resolution Student Association (DRSA)

Students interested in informal or alternative dispute resolution are encouraged to join the DRSA. Get access to distinguished dispute resolution professionals through regular speaking and networking events, and get to know your peers who share an interest in negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and other informal resolution methods.

Schiefelbein Global Dispute Resolution Scholarship

This annual scholarship recognizes demonstrated excellence in and engagement with international dispute resolution and ASU Law's Alternative Dispute Resolution program. A generous endowment from Les and Linda Schiefelbein makes this scholarship possible. Les Schiefelbein is an ASU Law alum ('72) and internationally recognized arbitrator with over 40 years of experience in complex commercial and government disputes.

Apply to the scholarship

Sample coursework

Arbitration
Contract Drafting and Negotiating
Dispute Resolution in Employment
Dispute Resolution Survey
International Dispute Resolution

Lodestar Mediation Clinic
Mediation Advocacy
Negotiation
Negotiation in Sports Law

MLS Conflict Resolution

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 effectively navigate conflict in various circumstances and environments.

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.

Learn more

Signature annual events

The Lodestar Dispute Resolution Center engages the community through high quality events and training programs for lawyers and other professionals who work with conflict. These events and programs provide world-class educational experiences and many qualify for continuing education credit.

Schiefelbein Global Dispute Resolution Conference

The annual Schiefelbein Global Dispute Resolution Conference examines the latest in international dispute resolution and brings together expert practitioners, business leaders, academics and heads of international arbitration institutions.

The Seventh Annual Schiefelbein Global Dispute Resolution Conference was held in Geneva, Switzerland, on June 27, 2025, where the theme was climate change and its impact on disputes and dispute resolution. At the conference, leading dispute resolution lawyers, government representatives, business executives, corporate counsel, and academics discussed climate change and explore evolving strategies for resolving climate-related disputes.

Explore the conference

Bruce E. Meyerson Lecture

The Bruce E. Meyerson Lecture brings renowned personalities and dispute resolution professionals to ASU Law to address students, attorneys and the public. Past lecturers include Kenneth Feinberg (oversaw the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, Boston Marathon bombing victims fund and BP’s Deepwater Horizon oil spill claims settlement fund, among others), who spoke about unconventional responses to unique catastrophes, and David Boies (litigated such high-profile cases as Bush v. Gore, California’s Prop. 8 ban on same-sex marriage and U.S. v. Microsoft), who explained the ways mediation and dispute resolution have changed litigation practice. These insightful lectures are open to the public and made available online.

Explore the lecture

Upcoming events and workshops

February 6 - 7 (in-person)
February 12 - 13 (online)

The Lodestar Dispute Resolution Center at ASU Law has partnered with Mediate.com to bring you a highly interactive 40-hour skills-based program designed to provide a clear framework for those seeking to become civil mediators. Through lecture, interactive exercises, and role-playing experiences, participants will learn the skills to effectively mediate disputes. We are delighted to have Dr. Clare Fowler join us as the lead trainer, bringing a wide range of experience and expertise in the dispute resolutions field.

February 19 | 12:15 - 1:15 p.m.
Online via Zoom

Earn up to 1 hour of CLE Credit

A well-drafted contract remains one of the most effective tools for preventing disputes—but the way contracts are drafted is rapidly evolving. This program explores the fundamental principles of effective contract drafting through the lens of artificial intelligence. Participants will learn how generative AI tools can be used to assist in drafting, reviewing, and analyzing contracts while still ensuring that agreements are tailored to the parties’ specific needs and legal requirements.

The program will address how to use AI thoughtfully and ethically, including strategies for prompting, reviewing AI-generated language, identifying risks and inaccuracies, and maintaining professional judgment. Attendees will also learn how to critically evaluate contract language produced with AI assistance and integrate AI tools into their drafting workflows without sacrificing clarity, accuracy, or legal responsibility. Participants will leave with practical tips, real-world examples, and best practices for leveraging AI as a contract drafting and review tool.

February 26 | 12:15 - 1:15 p.m.
BCLS 550

Earn up to 1 hour of CLE Credit

In this hands-on workshop, participants will engage in a creative group exercise designed to reveal how Creativity and Design Thinking offer an alternative path toward resolution of a complex conflict. You’ll experience firsthand how engaging the creative brain can dissolve defensiveness, strengthen trust, and expand the potential solution set beyond a compromise outcome. Come play and learn in this unique lunchtime practicum led by mediation expert and conflict consultant Laura Grisolano. Advance registration required. Space is limited.

March 4 | 12:15 - 1:15 p.m.
Online via Zoom

Earn up to 1 hour of CLE Credit

Difficult conversations can arise anywhere – asking for a raise, letting a longtime employee go, moving a family member to assisted living, settling an emotional lawsuit. People avoid difficult conversations out of the fear of possible consequences. When these conversations do happen, people often think and feel more than they actually say. This leads to ineffective discussions and less-than-ideal outcomes. There is a better way.

Join us for Difficult Conversations: Getting to What Matters and learn what is really happening – interests, identity, emotions – leading up to and during a difficult conversation. Event participants will gain the skills necessary to prepare for and successfully execute difficult conversations. Don't miss these strategies for handling tough conversations wherever they arise.

March 25 - 27 (online)

Each session is crafted to provide practical skills and insights applicable to your mediation practice. As a virtual conference, you can participate from anywhere, eliminating travel costs and allowing for flexible attendance. Recordings of all substantive sessions will be available to registrants, ensuring you can revisit the material at your convenience. Additionally, the conference provides opportunities for networking with peers and access to presentations from leading sponsors in the field.

Don’t miss this opportunity to advance your skills, connect with fellow professionals, and stay at the forefront of family mediation practice.

April 1 | 7 - 8:30 p.m.
BCLS Great Hall

The Bruce E. Meyerson Lecture brings renowned personalities and dispute resolution professionals to ASU Law to address students, attorneys and the public. This year's lecture features Keith Allred.

Keith Allred is the Executive Director of the National Institute for Civil Discourse (NICD), an organization that works to build our nation’s capacity to engage differences constructively. His work has been featured in the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, The Hill and Congressional Quarterly.

April 17 - 19
BCLS 544

Collaborative Professionals of Phoenix (CPP) is comprised of attorneys, mental health professionals and financial professionals who have been trained in the Collaborative Divorce Process, as well as affiliate members who support the collaborative law process.

May 13 | 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Online via Zoom

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming how disputes are prevented, managed, and resolved. From intake and case management to negotiation support and decision-making tools, AI is no longer theoretical — it is already shaping the practice of dispute resolution.

The AI and Dispute Resolution Conference brings together leading scholars, practitioners, technologists, and institutional leaders to explore how AI is being used in ADR today — and where it is headed next.

June 4 - 5 (online)
June 11 - 12 (in-person at BCLS)
June 18 - 19 (online)

This highly interactive 40-hour skills-based program is designed to provide a clear framework for those seeking to become family mediators. Through lecture, interactive exercises, and role-playing experiences participants will learn the skills to effectively mediate separation, divorce, post-divorce, and other related family disputes from start to finish.