Santa Clara Law Hosts Conflict Resolution Program
SANTA CLARA, Calif., -- Santa Clara Law faculty, staff, students and alumni recently attended an event to explore mediation through the Conflict Resolution Program (CRP) and the John Bates Mediation Clinic, guided by experienced professionals including Leor Chechik, Tamara Lopez, Adriana Moore, Laurie Mikkelsen, and the Honorable Peter H. Kirwan (Ret.). The event, Mediator’s Dilemma: Ethics in Practice, opened with Mikkelsen introducing the evolution of mediation and how it contrasts with litigation.
While litigation often fuels frustration through unpredictable outcomes and client dissatisfaction, mediation focuses on procedural and substantive satisfaction, helping parties reach resolutions that feel fair and self-determined. As Judge Kirwan shared, in mediation, “the glory is in the peacemaking.”
Moore, who studied psychology before law school, described how understanding human decision-making deepened her approach to mediation. Lopez, a mediator and former Deputy County Counsel, emphasized impartiality and managing conflicts of interest, stressing that “settling a case can be just as meaningful as winning one.”
Students appreciated learning from practitioners who embody a peacemaking mindset: “I really enjoyed learning more about mediation from such experienced mediators! I worked on a few mediations over the summer and it was great to learn more!” said one attendee. Another reflected, “Being able to learn about mediation while still in law school was an invaluable experience...I am glad Santa Clara is emphasizing its importance.”