(22 academic credits, plus capstone; minimum 3.0 GPA in certificate courses)
Our goal in creating the new certificate is to better integrate ADR and the day-to-day work of lawyers. We want to be sure that law students and prospective employers know that a certificate from Hamline is a measure of success in lawyering, not just a signal of interest in the work of neutrals such as mediators or arbitrators. The new certificate will give you broad exposure to ADR, as well as litigation, and put you in the best possible position to deliver value to employers and clients who recognize that the very best 21st century lawyers will be skilled problem-solvers. Please note that the thesis requirement is not solely an academic exercise; our goal is to assist you in generating a publication that you can use to market yourself as part of your post-Hamline career in dispute resolution. Quite frankly, we want the world to know that Hamline students are at the forefront of innovation, scholarship, and practice in ADR. The thesis requirement is designed to accomplish this objective.
Why Chooses the CAPS Program? 
The program is designed to fully integrate ADR and the day-to-day work of lawyers. Earning a Hamline CAPS certificate is a measure of future success in lawyering, not just a signal of interest in the work of neutrals such as mediators or arbitrators. The certificate will give you broad exposure to litigation and its many alternatives, offer you a window to new ways of conceptualizing and delivering justice, and allow you to actively explore questions of professional identity so you can seek the satisfaction that comes from a close connection between your future work as conflict resolver and your most deeply held values. In short, the program will put you in the best possible position to deliver value to employers and clients who recognize that the very best 21st century lawyers will be skilled problem-solvers.
Why Hamline?
Hamline has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report in the top five of American law school dispute resolution programs for eight consecutive years. Our January Term and summer courses (both at home and abroad) enroll a broad cross-section of law and other graduate students, practicing lawyers, human resources and business personnel, and other professionals. This intentional variety of students is designed to mirror the contemporary lawyer's work in increasingly multi-disciplinary settings.
Curriculum and Program Requirements
To successfully complete the CAPS program, students must maintain a 3.0 grade point average in twenty-two credits of study, including three foundation courses, three process overview courses, advocacy practice, and four elective credits. Each student also writes a capstone research paper, designed and completed with publication in mind.
Foundation (7 credits)
Theories of Conflict (2 credits)
Qualifying Courses:
- Theories of Conflict (January Term, Summer Institute, fall or spring Semester)
- Conflict Theories (spring semester in the Hamline University School of Business)
Negotiation (2 credits)
Qualifying Courses:
- Negotiation (January Term, Summer Institute, fall and spring semester)
- Making and Saving Deals (Summer Institute, which includes the Rome Negotiation Workshop)
- Negotiation & International Organizations in Norway (Bergen/Oslo Study Abroad)
Evidence (3 credits)
Qualifying Courses:
- Evidence (fall, spring and/or summer)
Process Overview (8 credits)
Mediation (3 credits)
Qualifying Courses:
- Mediation (J Term, Summer Institute, fall or spring semester)
- Mediation and Other Methods to Foster Democratic Dialogue (Budapest Study Abroad)
Arbitration (2 credits)
Qualifying Courses:
- Arbitration (Summer Institute, fall or spring semester)
- Introduction to the US Law of Arbitration (London Study Abroad)
Litigation (3 credits)
Qualifying Courses:
- Litigation Practice (fall and spring semester)
- International Civil Litigation (fall or spring semester)
- Trial Advocacy (Summer Institute, fall or spring semester)
Advocacy Practice (3 credits)
Qualifying Courses:
- Advanced Legal Research (3 credits)
- Advanced Litigation Practice (3 credits)
- Clinics (3 credits)
- Lawyering Skills (3 credits)
- Legal Advocacy (2 credits)
- Legal Drafting (1 or 2 credits)
- Moot Competitions (1 or 2 credits)
- Oral Advocacy (1 or 2 credits)
- Practicum (3 credits) or Extended Practicum (6-12 credits)
Electives (4 credits)
All courses offered in DRI January Term, Summer Institute, or Study Abroad (other than courses required above), and a wide array of pre-approved electives from the regular law school curriculum, including conflict of laws, federal courts, comparative law, remedies, restorative justice, and multiple seminars and/or selected topics are offered each semester on advocacy and ADR topics.
For a complete list of qualifying elective courses, download the Certificate Program Course Planning Guide, which is updated in advance of each registration period.
Capstone Research Project
Working closely under the supervision of the CAPS academic advisor, students will identify a capstone topic, conduct research, and present the results in a 20-page thesis quality paper. The capstone requirement is not solely an academic exercise; our goal is to assist you in generating a publication that you can use to market yourself as part of your post-Hamline career in conflict resoltuion. We want the world to know that Hamline students are at the forefront of innovation, scholarship, and practice in ADR. The capstone project is designed to accomplish this objective.
Course AvailAbility
DRI Courses: Certificate courses are offered during the DRI Summer Institute (late May through early August each year) and during the law school's January Term (typically the first two and a half weeks of each new year). Most Summer Institute courses are designed to accommodate the schedules of working students--with a two-credit course most commonly being completed over a ten-day period, using a combination of evening classes and one or two Saturdays. Certificate courses also are offered as part of the law school's January Term and summer study abroad programs. All DRI-sponsored courses are open for enrollment by graduate students and professionals from all fields. As a result, the classroom typically provides a rich cross-disciplinary learning environment.
Regular Law and Graduate School Courses: Students also may elect to take certificate courses during the regular law school fall and spring semesters. And, ADR course offerings that satisfy certificate requirements also are available on a space-available basis in the Hamline University School of Business. All certificate course credit applies toward completing your JD degree.
Certificate program enrollment gives registration priority for three of the required courses (Arbitration, Mediation, and Negotiation). However, please keep in mind that registration priority is not a guarantee of enrollment in any particular course. To maximize your enrollment opportunities, complete registration priority forms prior to each semester's registration period and register as early as possible in the registration period.
With permission of the CAPS academic advisor, students may import up to four credits from other graduate institutions (requires syllabus review and advance approval.)
Eligibility and Application Process
Only Hamline JD students are eligible to enroll in the CAPS program. To apply, complete and return the application form. After your program application is received, the CAPS academic advisor or DRI associate director will contact you to schedule a curriculum-planning meeting.
For more information, contact:
Kitty Atkins, Associate Director
651.523.2897
651.523.3028 (fax)
email: katkins@hamline.edu
Procedure for Obtaining Your Certificate in Dispute Resolution
Certificates are issued three times a year:
- at the conclusion of January Term
- at the conclusion of Spring Semester
- at the conclusion of Summer Term
In order to initiate the printing and issuance of your formal program certificate, it is your responsibility to contact DRI Associate Director Kitty Atkins by the conclusion of the term during which you will complete your last certificate requirement. She will then verify that you have successfully completed the program requirements and sign off on certificate issuance.
