Advanced Mediation Advocacy Practicum

Catalog description

Students will represent pro se clients pursuing employment discrimination claims at mediations taking place at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR). Under the supervision of an experienced attorney, students will work in pairs and conduct an interview and counseling session, develop a negotiation strategy and represent the client at the mediation conference. Representation is limited to the mediation. Class time will be devoted to discussions of pending cases and assigned readings in client counseling, mediation advocacy, and basic employment law. This course, which has won high praise from both students and clients, is open to students who have some prior experience with interest - based dispute resolution through a negotiation, mediation, client counseling or ADR course or through participation on a team. LLM students are also eligible for this class. Eligibility for a Supreme Court Rule 711 student license (43 credit hours completed) is preferred but not required. This course counts as a Skills and Live Client Experience course.