Humanizing the Law: Building Better Lawyers Through Mediation Coursework

Abstract

Many students enter law school with the goal of helping others. Traditional law school classes do not help students develop empathy and an understanding of client needs and interests. This paper argues that mediation training in law school helps students improve their understanding of the human experience of litigants involved in legal disputes and builds important empathic, relational, conflict resolution, and problem-solving skills. These skills not only help students connect with and understand their clients better but can promote the self-awareness and self-care necessary for students to become healthier and happier practicing attorneys. This results in students who are more client-centered and better equipped to help others