Help Design Systems That Transform How Organizations Handle Conflict

Imagine working with courts, nonprofits, community organizations, and peacebuilding coalitions to reimagine how they address conflict. In the Dispute Systems Design Clinic, you’ll do exactly that.

You’ll partner with real clients to design practical, inclusive mechanisms to engage and address disputes. Working in small teams of 2–3 students with faculty guidance, you’ll tackle meaningful projects like:

• Advising courts on alternative dispute resolution processes that increase both fairness and access to justice
• Supporting communities strengthening social and economic connection through collective problem-solving
• Helping mission-driven organizations build effective conflict resolution systems that enhance engagement and effectiveness
• Collaborating on peacebuilding initiatives to build and navigate participatory approaches to sustainable peace

What You’ll Actually Do

Rather than study conflict systems in theory, you’ll practice the real skills organizations need:

• Conduct interviews, focus groups, and surveys to understand stakeholders’ perspectives
• Facilitate complex meetings and build lasting client relationships
• Design systems grounded in dispute resolution theory and proven best practices
• Present findings and recommendations to leadership
• Manage sophisticated projects from start to finish—as a team

This is clinical work with measurable impact: your recommendations will actually shape how your clients handle conflict going forward.

Program Details

Required Co-Requisite: 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 recommended, but not required. 

Add/Drop Deadline: August 21, 2026.

Format: Team-based work with a single client organization, one semester

Placement Site: HLS

Pro Bono Credit: Most projects fulfill JD pro bono requirement

LLM Students: LLM students may enroll in this clinic through Helios.

Questions? Contact Tracy Blanchard at tblanchard@law.harvard.edu or visit https://hnmcp.law.harvard.edu

To learn more about the Clinical Curriculum and Registration, please visit our Clinical Registration Center. You can also find more information on How to Register for Clinics and How Clinical Credits Work.

To learn more about the Clinical Curriculum and Registration, please visit our Clinical Registration Center. You can also find more information on How to Register for Clinics and How Clinical Credits Work.

For more information about this clinic, please visit the Clinic Website, Clinic Q&A and OCP Blog Highlights.

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.