Branstetter Civil Litigation & Dispute Resolution Program Curriculum

The Litigation and Dispute Resolution program’s carefully designed curriculum combines a thorough background in the legal doctrines and theories underlying modern litigation with courses approaching the various aspects of litigation from a variety of perspectives, including psychological and economic. Students learn the methods our justice system uses to resolve disputes, including conventional trials, private agreements, court-approved settlements, arbitration, or other forms of alternative dispute resolution. They also gain a practical understanding of the structure of the court system, the theory and practice of settlement negotiation, and how conventional trials work.

2011-12 Electives

Students may choose program electives from among the following course offerings:

2011-12 Short-Course Electives

Short courses, which typically focus on specific legal issues or trends, are frequently taught by renowned visiting professors or practitioners, and are typically scheduled over one or more weekends.

2011-2012 Mediation Training

The Branstetter Litigation & Dispute Resolution Program in collaboration with the Nashville Conflict Resolution Center will offer mediation training to Vanderbilt students interested in becoming Rule 31 listed and serving as a volunteer mediator with the NCRC. The intensive mediation training led by mediation professionals provides participants with the fundamental skills needed to mediate a variety of disputes and includes 40 hours of training in conflict analysis, mediation process, communication techniques (including cross-cultural communication), negotiation, and mediation ethics. After completing the training, students serve as volunteer mediators through a mediation apprenticeship program. Under the NCRC program, students are eligible to become listed with the Tennessee Supreme Court as a Rule 31 mediator. Examples of real disputes that are mediated include: landlord-tenant cases, small claims lawsuits, neighbor and family disputes, and victim-offender cases involving misdemeanor crimes. For information about participating in the Vanderbilt training and the possibility of academic credit, please contact Dean Julie Sandine.

Newbern RIGHT

Alistair Newbern teaches Vanderbilt’s Appellate Litigation Clinic, in which students have won victories in cases addressing civil rights and immigration, and Appellate Practice and Procedure which provides an in-depth inquiry into the many substantive and procedural issues central to practice before federal and state appellate courts.