The Transformative Potential of Mediation Training for Law Students & Attorneys

A recent study of attorney mental health in the US showed "alarming rates" of depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and alcoholism among the study's nearly 13,000 currently-practicing attorneys (Krill, Johnson, and Albert 2016). Given that previous literature has raised significant concerns about the effects of law school training and culture on law students, this symposium presents evidence and ideas to support the contention that mediation and negotiation training and practice could have a transformative impact on attorneys' personal mental health. Furthermore, such training and practice would provide a professional skills set that is becoming increasingly important to lawyers given the expanding roles of mediation and other ADR practices in our legal system. The participants will draw from their experiences as law students and educators, mediation scholars, and ADR educators and practitioners to discuss the strengths and limitations of the proposal to integrate mediation training into law school curricula.