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.

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 23, 2024.

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

Placement Site: HLS.

The Dispute Systems Design (DSD) Clinic works with organizations and communities who are committed to engaging conflict more effectively and equitably. Clinical students will engage in projects that center listening to and learning from all stakeholders to ensure systems are informed by the people they affect. Equipped with stakeholder and expert assessment data, dispute system design theory, and best practices in the field, clinical students help their clients envision more just and inclusive systems. 

DSD Clinic students typically work in teams of 2–3, with a single client organization and a faculty supervisor, for the duration of the semester. Our practice areas include:

• Community Engagement & Dialogue Across Differences;
• Court-Related Programs & Access to Justice;
• Global Development & Peacebuilding;
• Strategic Negotiation & Conflict Consultation.

Students will have the opportunity to build the following skills in their day-to-day work:

• Designing stakeholder-centered, systems-oriented approaches to engaging conflict;
• Gathering a wide range of perspectives through interviews, focus groups, surveys, and other qualitative research methods
• Managing client relationships 
• Facilitating meetings
• Writing and presenting deliverables
• Managing complex projects
• Working as a team

For a sampling of past projects, please visit https://hnmcp.law.harvard.edu/clients/  Please feel free to contact Tracy Blanchard at tblanchard@law.harvard.edu with any questions about the clinic.  

Successful completion of appropriate written work in this offering satisfies the professional writing requirement for matriculants to the J.D. program from 2023 onward.