The Loyola Center for Conflict Resolution (LCCR) completed the first academic year of its its Conciliation and Mediation Clinic (C-MAC) course for Hybrid JD Evening students, offering a new way for evening students to gain critical experience in mediation and conflict resolution.
LCCR sought to meet the needs of evening students specifically and to give them the opportunities of working in the clinic, which offers hands-on conciliation and mediation experience in a wide variety of cases including landlord-tenant, neighbor-to-neighbor, family disputes, divorce (classic and collaborative mediation), consumer-merchant, discrimination and employment. The C-MAC course is just one of several hybrid clinic offerings at LLS.
Students from LCCR’s evening program shared, “Speaking with parties over the phone, I learned an extensive number of new types of issues, cases, and scenarios that I did not have experience with before.” Students received hands-on training and mentorship. They connected with staff members, remarking “Everyone truly loves the work they do and that the Center does. The staff and the volunteers are all so patient and helpful, always willing to help or explain things.”
Evening students learned conflict resolution skills, and practiced active listening, client interaction, and case management skills that they will carry into their future legal careers, saying, “I feel more confident in my own abilities and capacity when it comes to engaging different people, and also in day-to-day interactions that may sometimes require conflict resolution skills.” They shared how working at the center as a neutral third party reframed their professional approach to their legal work. “I will apply the lessons I learned about how to approach issues with clients in a manner that is more from a conflict resolution perspective as opposed to always trying to approach it from an adversarial perspective.”
Students reflected that their work at LCCR with the staff and parties will have a lasting impact on their professional lives and their outlook on the law. “Years from now, I will remember working alongside great people who care about the community and are willing to listen to people’s stories and help them accomplish their goals,” one student said. “Yes, practicing law can be a job, but it is important to remember the good work that can be done and dedicate ourselves to making a difference.”