Levin College of Law
Shaping tomorrow’s problem solvers and conflict resolvers.
At UF Law, we have a broad and deep commitment to dispute resolution and advocacy. Through our rigorous, multidisciplinary curriculum, we expand on the traditional skills to include the most innovative and creative processes. Our students approach their clients’ problems efficiently, skillfully, and appropriately.
Our faculty is collaborative and innovative. Through our teaching, research, service, and scholarship we strive to remain consistently and uncompromisingly at the forefront.
UF Law recognizes the increasing importance of dispute resolution skills. While we teach our students many stand-alone courses in topics such as negotiation, mediation, representation in mediation and arbitration, our faculty also integrates these essential skills throughout our foundational and advanced doctrinal courses.
Litigator Mediator Forum
The University of Florida Levin College of Law welcomes you to join us on our Gainesville campus for a live Continuing Legal Education event, Litigator Mediator Forum. Please join Donna Erez-Navot, Legal Skills Professor and Director, Mediation Clinic, University of Florida Levin College of Law; and Harold Oehler, Esq., Oehler Mediation; for this two hour event with state and federal judges, litigators, and mediators. This free CLE event has been approved for 2.0 Ethics and 2.0 General credits by The Florida Bar; lunch will be served. You may register here. Please contact ruthm@law.ufl.edu for more information.
Time: 11:00am to 1:00pm
Location: University of Florida Levin College of Law; more details will be forthcoming
Institute for Dispute Resolution Spring Lecture
Leonard Riskin, Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Florida Levin College of Law delivers the Institute for Dispute Resolution Spring Lecture, via Zoom webinar.
“Professor Johnsen’s arbitration class sits comfortably as a hybrid between a skills-based and traditional Socratic method class. Throughout the semester, I learned the ‘why’ behind arbitration, and how lawyers resolving all types of specialized conflicts can benefit from dispute resolution through arbitration. Learning about the purposes of alternative dispute resolution has crucially broadened my understanding of the practice of law as a whole. Understanding the role played by arbitration in the litigation process provides the necessary context for negotiations with opposing counsel and for client consultations.”
~Morgan Zwirn (JD 22)
“One of the biggest takeaways from Negotiation was the importance of having a learning mindset. I learned to ask ‘why’ and then listen intently to the response because a negotiation is largely about understanding the person with whom you are speaking. Negotiation is a unique course in the UF Law curriculum because the concepts apply across one’s daily life. Professor Stearns Johnsen calls the act of applying negotiation skills ‘magic’. I agree.”
~Andrea V. Hernandez (JD 25)
“Being involved with Alternative Dispute Resolution in law school was one of my best decisions. Through ADR, I had the opportunity to take part in a diversity summit through the American Arbitration Association. This summit allowed me to hear from full-time professionals about everything it takes to be a successful neutral. Opportunities such as these would not have been possible without the support of UF Law and ADR.”
~Brandon Smith (JD 24)
“During my time as a UF Law student, we were encouraged to explore unique topics within ADR. The invaluable guidance of Professor Erez-Navot helped me place in the top 8 of the 2023 American Journal of Mediation National Dispute Resolution Writing Competition. Additionally, my article has been accepted for publication in the February 2025 issue of the University of Missouri School of Law’s Journal of Dispute Resolution. These outcomes show the exceptional guidance and opportunities provided through the ADR Seminar.”
~Sabrina Saint-Marc (JD 24)
The Institute for Dispute Resolution was founded in 1996, under the leadership of Professor Robert B. Moberly. Its purpose was threefold: (1) to serve as an interdisciplinary university-based research program, focused on dispute resolution theory and practice; (2) to incorporate dispute resolution into the broader law school curriculum; and (3) to foster service activities in dispute resolution.
Professor Don Peters succeeded Professor Moberly as Director of the Institute. He continued the Institute’s tradition of hosting and co-developing with the Upchurch, Watson, White & Max Mediation Group’s annual day-long continuing mediation workshops. As new types of ADR developed, the institute incorporated these ideas into ongoing projects, such as a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to establish a mediation service for farmers. Professor Allison Gerencser, a member of the Institute, provided this service. Also, the Institute provided ADR training in Haiti, funded by a U.S. Information Agency grant under the next Director of the Institute, Professor Don Peters.
Director Professor Robin Davis continued to establish the Institute and presented at annual conferences and trainings and brought leaders in the field to the law school. In recent years leaders in the field of Dispute Resolution have presented on various aspects of negotiation, mediation, and arbitration. Including Professors John Lande, Alyson Carrel, Carrie Menkel-Meadow, Amy Schmitz, and Noam Ebner, and alumni Harold Oehler, John J. Upchurch, Lawrence M. Watson, and Richard Lord.
Under the leadership of the Institute’s current Director, Professor Joan Stearns Johnsen a number of dispute resolution academics have presented to the UF Community including Professor David Hoffman, Harvard and the Boston Law Collaborative, Professor Homer LaRue, Howard University School of Law, Professor Emeritus Len Riskin, currently at Northwestern University School of Law, Associate Dean Jill Gross, Pace University School of Law, Executive Vice Dean Christine Lazaro, St. John’s University School of Law, Professor Imre Szalai, Loyola of New Orleans School of Law.
The Institute is known for its practical approach to teaching dispute resolution skills. Students at UF learn more than theory. They are taught how they as professionals will be arbitrating and mediating in practice. Among the alumni practicing in the field of dispute resolution who have generously presented programs or participated in classes for UF Law students are Edward Mullins, Reed Smith, Oscar Sanchez, Oscar Sanchez Mediation, and Leslie O’Neal, JAMS, Patricia Cowart, Assistant General Counsel, Wells Fargo, and Professor Melanie Cherdack, Miami University School of Law. Among the national and international leaders in the field who have spoken to our UF dispute resolution students are Mireze Philippe, former Special Counsel of the International Chamber of Commerce, Jerry Roscoe, JAMS, Serena Lee, Chairman and CEO, International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution (CPR), Richard Hall, Global Co-Head of Mergers and Acquisitions, Cravath, Joseph M. Sellers, Founder and Co-chair Civil Rights and Employment Practice, Cohen Millstein, Richard Berry, Executive Vice President and Director, FINRA Dispute Resolution. Noah Hanft, former General Counsel, MasterCard, Allen Waxman, former General Counsel, Pfizer, Angela Valedon Romero, Vice President, American Arbitration Association, Jeffrey Kichaven, Kichaven ADR.
In 2020, University of Florida along with CPR and the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution hosted a virtual town hall on the topic of Prevention. Professor Johnsen organized a daylong event that brought over 200 registrants, this was an early exploration of techniques for reducing litigation for more business purpose among corporations. This was one of the earliest events in this growing area. Among the speakers at this event were Scott Partridge, former General Counsel of Bayer U.S. and Pilar Ramos, former General Counsel, Mastercard North America. In 2023, Professor Johnsen’s work in the area of Prevention was recognized by CPR with its Leadership in Dispute Prevention Award.
Under the leadership of the Institute’s current Director, Professor Joan Stearns Johnsen and Associate Director, Professor Donna Erez-Navot and with the support of alumni and students, the Institute continues to serve our students, alumni, and the community with original and state of the art content and training.
At UF Law we take students beyond the theoretical to the practical implementation of the most forward-thinking approach to dispute resolution. Ours is a practical approach. This approach to teaching is reinforced through the speakers we bring and also through opportunities that expose students to the dispute resolution they will find when they begin their practice. An approach that is valued by employers. The below list is just a sampling of the many opportunities available to UF Law students.
