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Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, Columbus, OH [By Heather Jung] As the demand for justice increases, so does the number of cases that courts must hear. In an effort to avoid lengthy—and costly—litigations, more and more people are turning to various forms of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) such as negotiation, mediation, and arbitration. In order to accommodate the growing demand for ADR, Ohio State University’s Moritz College of Law established the Alternative Dispute Resolution certificate program. According to the school’s website, “The importance of alternative dispute resolution methods continues to increase as courts explore other means of solving the volume of cases before them.”
The program is currently ranked third among
In addition to a certificate in ADR and a
says that “knowledge of those strengths can
dispute resolution programs by U.S. News
traditional J.D. degree, there are a plethora of
help you identify practice areas in which you
and World Report. All students who attend Moritz are encouraged to take at least one ADR class during their time in law school. Those who take a liking to ADR can work on the Ohio State Journal on Dispute Resolution or as a research assistant for one of the faculty members who teach in that area. Upon graduation, students can receive a certificate in Dispute Resolution if they have completed at least 15 credit hours in ADR and an externship.
degree opportunities for students attending
are likely to make the greatest contribution
Moritz. Students can choose from one of three
and receive the most personal satisfaction.”
pre-established dual degrees: J.D./M.P.A.,
According to U.S. News and World Report,
J.D./M.B.A., and J.D./M.H.A. (Master of
94.9 percent of students are employed within
Health Administration). Select students can
nine months of graduating.
enroll in the College of Medicine and Public Health for a J.D./M.D. Past students have also designed their own joint degree programs in areas such as philosophy, higher education, and urban and regional planning, among others. Students interested in furthering their education beyond a J.D. have several options
“We established this program because
at Moritz. The school offers the traditional
When the law school first opened in 1891,
dispute resolution is such an integral part
Master of Law (LL.M.), as well as a Master
classes were held at the Franklin County
of today’s litigation landscape,” Sarah Cole,
in the Study of Laws (M.S.L.). The M.S.L.
Courthouse and tuition cost $60 per
a professor who specializes primarily in
program, which began in 2004, allows those
year. Classes were moved to Orton Hall
dispute resolution, said. “Attorneys need
who possess or are pursuing a Ph.D. in non-
on Ohio State’s main campus in 1894. In
to be conversant in dispute resolution
law fields to broaden their expertise of laws
2001, Michael Moritz, an OSU law school
mechanisms since courts routinely order
related to their field.
alum, donated $30 million to the school, and the College was subsequently named
parties to participate in various dispute resolution mechanisms (particularly
According to the school’s website, “The best
in his honor. This donation is used for
mediation and negotiation) and parties
law is practiced by men and women whose
scholarships, faculty chairs, service awards,
agree to use arbitration (or consumers and
practices fully utilize their unique skills and
and other academic programs.
employees have arbitration imposed on them
strengths. The Moritz Career Services staff
through one-sided agreements).”
is committed to helping you find the best job
As the state’s capital, Columbus has a
fit possible.”
lot to offer law students. The Columbus metropolitan area is home to five Fortune
According to Cole, studying dispute resolution in addition to litigation is
In order to ensure that students find jobs
500 companies and 700 law firms. These
important because it “provides students with
that are the right fit for them, the Career
businesses and firms provide Moritz students
a more balanced view of practice.”
Services Office utilizes Strengthsfinder, an
with opportunities for externships, part
Internet-based personality test published
time employment, and clerkships. Students
“Lawyers who fail to learn about dispute
by the Gallup Organization that, upon
also benefit from the university’s ties to the
resolution, given its prevalence, will
completion, tells students what their top
state legislature and Supreme Court, local
likely disappoint the expectations of their
five strengths are from a list of the 34 most
law firms, and various levels of courts and
clients,” she said.
prevalent human strengths. The website
governmental agencies.
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LAW SCHOOL PROFILE
www.lawcrossing.com
1. 800.973.1177
Crew (soccer), and the minor league baseball
to the College—the largest cash gift in the
team, the Clippers. Every February, Arnold
history of the Ohio State University—has
Schwarzenegger hosts the Arnold classic, a
created even more possibilities, including
fitness expo and competition that includes
full tuition plus stipend scholarships for
eight Olympic sports.
exceptionally qualified students.”
For those who are more artistically inclined,
ON THE NET
there are the Columbus Museum of Art, the
Columbus is a sports lover’s dream. For those who like college sports, OSU has plenty of teams (34 varsity teams) to keep them entertained. All sports are Division I teams, with the exception of the football team, which is part of the I-A Division. Columbus is also home to several professional sports teams: the Blue Jackets (NHL), Destroyers (arena football), Columbus
PAGE
Wexner Center for the Arts (located on the
Moritz College of Law
OSU campus), and several other museums.
moritzlaw.osu.edu/
Theater lovers can take in performances of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, the Opera Columbus, and the Columbus Jazz
Ohio State Journal on Dispute Resolution moritzlaw.osu.edu/jdr/
Orchestra. Strengthsfinder In a letter to prospective students on the school’s website, Dean Nancy Rogers says that “the Michael E. Moritz College of Law is an exciting place to be. A major new gift
www.strengthsfinder.com/