Mediation Clinic
Past Mediation Clinic Students Left to Right: Victoria Heist '24; Ciara Donohue '24; Christian Soto '24
The increasingly vital craft of mediation and interest-based negotiation is the focus of the School of Law’s Mediation Clinic; working on cases referred by local courts or other mediation agencies, students help resolve disputes in family law, small claims and the community.
Mediation is becoming an extensively utilized dispute resolution tool as Federal and State Courts establish mediation referral programs and as clients are increasingly hiring private sector mediators to avoid costly court battles and to maximize results. The best way to understand mediation is to actually be in the mediator’s chair with real parties. It is vital that new lawyers are cognizant of what mediation is all about, whether they want to possibly make mediation part of their future law practices, or simply know enough to effectively advise and assist their clients at mediation sessions.
In order to be accepted in the Mediation Clinic, you must have completed one (1) the following courses:
- LAW690 - Alternative Dispute Resolution
- LAW722 - Mediation Theory & Practice
Exceptions may be made if you have taken the LAW 866TUT - Advocacy in Mediation or if you have outside mediation training .
Steve Sugarman
Director of Mediation Clinic
Clinical Legal Education
Mediation is a process where parties to a legal dispute, led by a trained, neutral mediator (or mediators) talk through the issues of the situation and attain an agreement and result that everyone can live with. Mediation is a less expensive (or free), less time-consuming alternative to court. In mediation the disputing parties have the chance to settle their differences in a safe, confidential and efficient manner, which protects a party's statements from being used against them should the mediation not result in a settlement and the matter goes to court. Mediation can also provide certainty of result with a resolution rather than having to be exposed to the risks in front of a judge or jury.
Mediation often improves communication, saves people time and money, and leads to longer-lasting agreements. Mediation can be especially effective in family, neighbor, and business conflicts or where the individuals involved want to preserve their relationship. Mediation may not be appropriate or safe in cases involving a history or fear of domestic violence.
Mediation can help people get what they need, whether it’s peace, family unity, a financial settlement, or even a chance to be heard. Our law student mediators are trained and committed to promoting peace in our communities.
AccessiBull Justice Season 2 Episode 6: Mediations, Mediators... Oh My!
On this episode of AccessiBULL Justice, Mediation Clinic Director Adjunct Clinical Instructor Steve Sugarman and University at Buffalo School of Law Student Attorneys Adriana Argento '22 and Julia Rose '23 discuss what mediation is; how it can be used as an alternative to litigation; how the law school offers a multitude of ways to satisfying the growing interest in ADR and Mediation and more!
DISCLAIMER: The information in this podcast episode “episode” is provided for general informational purposes only and may not reflect the current law in your jurisdiction. By listening to our episode, you understand that there is no attorney client relationship between you and the University at Buffalo School of Law’s Clinical Legal Education attorneys and podcast publisher. No information contained in this episode should be construed as legal advice from University at Buffalo School of Law’s Clinical Legal Education and/or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for legal counsel on any subject matter. No listener of this episode should act or refrain from acting on the basis of any information included in, or accessible through, this episode without seeking the appropriate legal or other professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from a lawyer licensed in the recipient’s state, country or other appropriate licensing jurisdiction.