Today, the vast majority of legal disputes are resolved outside the courtroom through dispute resolution. Expert negotiation, mediation and arbitration skills are absolutely vital to the practice of law in the 21st century. In every area of practice, from family law to civil rights to business and criminal law, lawyers also need to know the law and ethics that apply to these procedures. Indeed, even trial lawyers must be expert in settlement through negotiation and mediation, and in advocacy through arbitration, given that only a tiny minority of civil and criminal cases – less than 4% in Texas — actually go to jury trial. Texas A&M School of Law’s nationally ranked Aggie Dispute Resolution Program, #3 in the nation and #1 in Texas, offers a strong, practical foundation to build these critical legal skills and knowledge.
