糖心原创

Faculty Director and Professor of Law Hiro Aragaki kicks of the conference posing a question for attendees to consider: 鈥淗ow do we define excellence in ADR scholarship?鈥�

Last week, the Center on Negotiation & Dispute Resolution at 糖心原创 was proud to host the eighteenth annual Association of American Law Schools Section on Alternative Dispute Resolution Works-in-Progress Conference. In San Francisco for the first time, 鈥渢he WIP鈥� is an opportunity that brings together dispute resolution scholars, teachers, and practitioners to present and receive feedback on their scholarly ideas and projects in a welcoming and collegial environment.

CNDR Faculty Director & Professor of Law Hiro Aragaki explained, 鈥淭he WIP is an important opportunity for ADR scholars from across the country to learn about new developments in the field, test out new ideas, and deepen scholarly discourse. We were excited to channel San Francisco鈥檚 tradition of innovation by offering several new panel formats and organizing the conference around the question of how we as a field define excellence in ADR scholarship.鈥�

This year鈥檚 WIP featured two programming innovations. The first was a series of plenary panels featuring mature drafts and commentary from senior scholars. The format provided an opportunity to showcase forthcoming works and consider them in light of the diverse expertise represented at the conference.

Donna Erez-Navot (Florida) offers feedback in a breakout session during the conference鈥檚 new idea-in-progress panel format, designed to provide targeted feedback on germinal ideas

The second was an 鈥渋deas-in-progress鈥� panel format for early-stage scholarly questions and hunches. The format featured brief presentations, structured online feedback, and 鈥渕usical chairs鈥濃�搃nspired breakout sessions designed to provide presenters an opportunity to brainstorm more deeply in a smaller group. Many participants named the new format as a highlight of the weekend.

Scholarship shared at the WIP spanned the full spectrum of ADR research. 聽Presentations ranged from asking practical policy questions regarding mediator certification, to interrogating the risks and promise of artificial intelligence in dispute resolution, and to exploring the arbitration practices of Abraham Lincoln.聽 A full list of presentations can be found .

Despite an internet outage affecting institutions around the UC Law SF neighborhood, the hybrid conference won plaudits from attendees. Reflecting on the conference, AALS ADR Section Chair Katrina Lee, John C. Elam/Vors Sater Professor in Law and Director of the Program on Dispute Resolution at Ohio State University said, 鈥淭he excellence, innovation, and welcoming spirit of UC Law SF shined through at the WIP!鈥�