Mediation analysis is not a traditional part of a law school curriculum, but for students at several law schools in New York, that is poised to change.  New York Law School, Brooklyn Law School, and Seton Hall Law School are all preparing students for the changing legal landscape in which government mediation and arbitration will play a significant role alongside litigation in court. 

Under the supervision of course professors, students at these schools will soon begin to work with real plaintiffs facing employment discrimination lawsuits.  The students will not only meet with clients and prepare mediation statements; they will also have to analyze the role, function, and benefits of working within the framework of mediation, a field which is new to even some practicing litigators.

Value of Mediation Analysis

"Within the course of a semester, a student can be assigned a client, do an intake, draft a mediation statement and do a negotiation," commented Sarah Netburn, who serves as chief counsel to the Southern District Office of Pro Se Litigation.  She also called mediation a "perfect fit" for legal students who need hands-on experience that can take place during a single semester.  While court cases can drag on for years or even decades, mediation is widely recognized as being a faster process for all concerned.