Enrollment in this clinic may fulfill the HLS JD pro bono requirement depending on project assignment. Please contact the Office of Clinical and Pro Bono Programs (clinical@law.harvard.edu) for more information.

Required Class Component: Dispute Systems Design Clinical Seminar (2 fall classroom credits). This clinic and course are bundled; your enrollment in the clinic will automatically enroll you in this required course.

Additional Co-/Pre-Requisites: Negotiation Workshop is recommended, but not required.

By Permission: No.

Add/Drop Deadline: August 12, 2022.

LLM Students: LLM students may apply to the clinic through the LLM General Clinic Application.

Placement Site: HLS.

Students in the Harvard Dispute Systems Design Clinic advise clients on how they can more effectively engage conflict within an organization. Students may assist an organization in conducting a conflict assessment, designing a dispute resolution system, assessing an ongoing set of dispute management processes, or resolving a current conflict or series of conflicts. Students will learn skills that may include conducting interviews for stakeholder assessments, facilitating learning dialogues, running focus groups, making design recommendations, leading teams, and presenting to clients. Past clients include federal and state agencies, nonprofits, religious organizations, transnational corporations, small start-up companies, professional sports teams, municipalities, local government officials, and universities.

Students in the clinic will have the chance to manage senior level client relationships and are asked to work through difficult concepts and problems directly with clients and their clinical supervisor. Students work in a team of 2 to 3 students, typically collaborating on single project for one client during the entire semester. By working for a single client, students have the unique chance to collaborate on a project from start to finish. For a listing of current and past clinic clients, please visit our website. 

If you have questions about the clinic, feel free to email Tracy Blanchard at tblanchard@law.harvard.edu.