Handbook

This course focuses on a small range of important and controversial topics in contemporary dispute resolution and examines them critically from both theoretical and practical perspectives. Students are encouraged to identify, engage with and discus key writings and other resources in this area, and to think about how theory can be reconciled with the practical realities of dispute resolution, both in Australia and internationally. While the course is offered in a legal setting it embraces the contributions which are made to dispute resolution theory and practice from many other disciplines.

We examine issues arising in theory and facing practitioners in all facets of dispute resolution practice. The focus is on both contemporary trends and anticipated changes in this dynamic area and on their implications for lawyers and other dispute resolution professionals. Among the topics to be considered are Conflicting Values in Dispute Resolution Systems; Self-help in Legal Services; Numbers, Money and Dollars in Positional Bargaining; Cognitive and Social Biases in Decision Making; The Multi-Door Courthouse and Non-Adversarial Justice; On-line Dispute Resolution; Disruptive Dispute Resolution Systems; and International DR - Trends in Investment and Trade.  The final selection of topics will be made by the class collectively.