Alternative Dispute Resolution
The legal profession is multifaceted, requiring a complex combination of knowledge and skills. Marquette University Law School trains compassionate, empathetic professionals capable of advising clients regarding all available avenues for resolving disputes, whether through litigation or alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. A leader in dispute resolution education, Marquette University Law School offers its students the benefits of a nationally recognized ADR program.
MU Law’s ADR Program includes mediation, arbitration, negotiation, and restorative justice. These areas enhance students’ ability to problem solve and meet the needs of their clients after graduation. Some ADR courses are offered with a direct connection to other areas of law which allows students to explore the application of ADR in conjunction with their other interests.
Students can gain practical experience in ADR directly through workshops, seminars, internships, client skills competitions, our Restorative Justice Clinic, and our Small Claims Mediation Clinic. Marquette University law students have historically excelled at international, national, and regional ABA sponsored competitions.
"ADR is the foundation of my practice. ADR processes and strategies often save time, money, and relationships, satisfying my municipal and school clients in more ways than one. Marquette's ADR curriculum, as well as its dedicated faculty and staff, has prepared me well to utilize ADR in all stages of problem solving." - Hannah Chin, MULS, 2022.
Students who are interested in pursuing the Certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution should contact Prof. Donaldson.
Faculty
Full-Time Faculty
Professor Rebecca Donaldson
Professor Anne Kearney
Professor Judith McMullen
Professor Matthew Mitten
Professor Karen Sandrik
Professor Mary Triggiano
Part-Time Faculty
Professor David Bourne
Professor Peter Coffey
Professor Daniel Chudnow
Professor Mary Ferwerda
Professor David Gottardo
Professor Lori Kornblum
Professor Jill Sopha
Professor Paul Stenzel
Professor Margaret Zickuhr
Distinguished & Emeritus Faculty
Justice Janine Geske
Professor Jay Grenig
CURRICULUM AND COURSES
Course descriptions can be found in the online Law School Bulletin.
Please note that not every course is taught each year.
Student Organizations, Clinics, & Activities
Client Skills Board: Competitions focused on negotiation, arbitration, mediation, and client counseling provide students the opportunity to practice the concepts learned in the classroom. Competitions’ sponsors include the American Bar Association Law Student Division, the American Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section, Transactional Law Meets, and Marquette University Law School Client Skills Board. Teams from Marquette have competed in ABA Regional, National, and International Competitions.
Restorative Justice Clinic: The Restorative Justice Clinic is an in-house clinical program of Marquette Law School’s Andrew Center for Restorative Justice. It provides students with supervised, hands-on experience in restorative justice practices—including victim-offender dialogue, healing circles, and community conferencing—while encouraging reflection, ethical lawyering, and community-centered problem-solving. Students earn academic credit through a combination of fieldwork and classroom learning. The clinic operates at the intersection of law, healing, and justice. It is designed to prepare students for legal practice that engages trauma, conflict, and harm with humility, accountability, and empathy. Through this work, students become more attuned to justice systems that honor the voices of all impacted parties.
Small Claims Mediation Clinic: Students work in conjunction with Milwaukee County’s Small Claims Court directly mediating cases for pro se litigants under the supervision of experienced attorney-mediators. These students interact with a widely diverse population who seek agreements for small claims disputes ranging from landlord/tenant, contractor/dissatisfied customer, to ex-roommates’ division of security deposit and furnishing. The cases come directly from the Court and mediated agreements close the court case.
Registered Student Organizations contribute to the vibrant student community at Marquette University Law School. Scroll through our list of organizations to find the one that suits you best and if you are a current student, you can click on the links to get contact information.