| UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
JAMES E. ROGERS COLLEGE OF LAW |
OCTOBER 2, 2024 | | |
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Greetings,
This week we feature the ADR concentration in our Master of Legal Studies program, designed to give students in varied careers hands-on training in dispute resolution. Graduates take their knowledge into construction disputes, labor negotiations and more.
And a reminder: If you are planning to attend the Red & Blue BBQ on October 19 during Homecoming weekend, don’t forget to RSVP.
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Until the footnotes,
Marc
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Master of Legal Studies ADR Concentration Draws Students with Many Backgrounds | |
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Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) has been in the news lately, from Disney’s attempt to bind a man suing over his wife’s death at a Disney resort based upon his Disney+ streaming service’s arbitration clause, to Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles’ appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport over her revoked bronze medal.
“We’ve all been involved in dispute resolution,” said arbitrator and mediator Brian Clauss, noting that something as simple as helping one’s children solve a backseat squabble requires dispute resolution skills.
Mediation and arbitration are often used by non-lawyers in a variety of settings from construction to labor disputes. That’s why, in 2020, University of Arizona Law began developing the Alternative Dispute Resolution Concentration for the Master of Legal Studies (MLS) degree program.
Created by Clauss, Director of Advocacy Barbara Bergman, and Professor Paul Bennett, the concentration requires students to complete 15 credits of ADR-related courses as part of the 30-credit MLS program. For example, courses include Workplace Alternative Dispute Resolution, International Alternative Dispute Resolution and Family Law Mediation. All courses in the concentration are taught online and focus on experiential learning – like conducting negotiations for instructors to critique.
See the full story to learn more.
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Join Us for Homecoming October 19 | |
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Homecoming is approaching in just a few short weeks! Join us October 19 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the Arizona Law Red & Blue BBQ and throughout the weekend for events around the University of Arizona campus, including the TEDxUofA event, “Desert Genius,” on Friday, October 18.
If you have not done so already, please RSVP for the Red & Blue BBQ. We look forward to seeing you soon.
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Hospital Heart Program Named for Alum Steve Grout (’82) | |
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The Phoenix Children’s Hospital recently dedicated the Stephen C. Grout Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program at its Center for Heart Care in honor of alumnus Steve Grout (’82), who passed away suddenly in 2023 from heart disease brought on by congenital heart defects.
Steve was born in 1955 with multiple heart defects. His prognosis at birth was poor, but he beat the odds.
Friends from the Class of 1982 remember Steve as friendly, witty and extremely smart. “Shoulders shaking in mirth, Steve enjoyed your quip as much as his own, relishing friendly banter. In his studies, he was all business, exhibiting considerable acumen. Academic success was his priority, and he met his goal (Order of the Coif),” noted Mike Widener (’82).
After graduation, Steve practiced real estate law for a short time. He then worked with his father’s company, Grout Properties, and in commercial real estate investment. He also invested in mutual funds and ETFs. Steve is survived by his wife Barbara Grout, who he first met when they were young children.
Another classmate, Pat Martin (’82), passed the news along to us after the dedication ceremony at Phoenix Children’s. “It is important that the law school—heck, the University—acknowledge law school alums not only for law-related things that they do in this life, but the quiet, thoughtful things they do with their fruits of their accomplishments regardless of their nature once they no longer walk among us,” wrote Pat. “For Steve, he is making life itself possible – for kids and adults to simply take that next breath.”
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Prof. Williams Participates in Events in Mexico City | |
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Regents Professor Rob Williams recently participated in a pair of events in Mexico City sponsored by business magnate and philanthropist Carlos Slim’s Carlos Slim Foundation and Telmex Foundation featuring high-profile speakers and discussions on cross-border issues.
Building Bridges 2024 brought together a distinguished group of Arizona leaders from across sectors to discuss critical challenges facing communities both in Mexico and the United States. Along with Rob, invitees included Arizona State Senator Flavio Bravo, Vice-President of Legislative and Government Affairs for Arizona Complete Health Monica Coury (’03), Arizona Corporation Commission Commissioner Lea Márquez Peterson, Arizona State University Professor Michelle Hale and Special Projects Administrator of the Maricopa Association of Governments Nathan Pryor. Four of the five other members of the group had been taught by Professor Williams in courses and workshops during his 37-year career at the University of Arizona Law.
During the annual México Siglo XXI event, thousands of youth scholarship recipients gather to hear from an international line-up of speakers. This year’s speakers included former U.S. President Bill Clinton; actor and director Bradley Cooper; Chef José Andrés, CEO of the humanitarian relief organization World Central Kitchen; and James Clear, author of the New York Times best-seller, Atomic Habits. Rob and the rest of the group from Arizona met the speakers during a formal dinner following the event.
“It was an amazing and enlightening four days where we were able to learn about the philanthropic work and impact of the Slim Foundation,” Rob said. “We had the chance to talk about our own current projects and initiatives with the Arizona communities and issues we were involved with, and exchange ideas and information on addressing the challenges of alleviating poverty and improving educational and workforce development opportunities on both sides of the Mexico-Arizona border.”
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Do You Have News?
Your success is the college’s success and we want to celebrate with you! If you have landed a new job, received an award or recognition, stepped into a leadership role or have good news in general, let us know.
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Over the past fifty years, starting in the 1970s, alternative dispute resolution – ADR – has become a dominant element in our legal system, and more generally in broad areas of our society and economy including employment and family law. Our beautiful new courtrooms – whose unveiling is weeks away – are a reminder that all great lawyers should be trained in advocacy and understand the process of dispute resolution through the court system. But now it is important not only for lawyers, but for many other professionals, to be trained in the law and practice of dispute resolution outside of courts.
Professors Barbara Bergman and Paul Bennett created a partnership with noted arbitrator, mediator and teacher Brian Clauss, who spent a semester visiting at Arizona Law, to plan, and ultimately to build, an array of courses to provide deep knowledge and training around ADR, fully attentive to the fact that interest would come from lawyers and non-lawyers alike. I am very grateful for their broad and deep vision, the superb set of courses they have built, and the excellent and expert teachers they have recruited to the program.
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