Learning to be A Peacemaking Lawyer: Law Student Perspectives on Building Peacemaking into Law School Curricula, Building Paths to Practice for New Lawyers, and Interdisciplinary Training

Abstract

From our perspectives as students, we reflect on the teachings of Lawyer as Peacemaker, a Winter 2015 course taught at UCLA School of Law — the school's course devoted to peacemaking lawyering. Utilizing our newfound peacemaking worldview, we share our collective reactions to the Lawyer as Peacemaker course and the ten articles in the Family Court Review Special Issue on Peacemaking for Divorcing Families. We then advocate for integrating peacemaking into law school curricula and experiential learning offerings and make recommendations on how law schools today can prepare students to practice peace. Key Points for the Family Court Community: This article is a collaborative work product of three students who come from an array of work experience, backgrounds and interests and from their newly founded peacemaking worldview, the three students collaboratively analyzed ideas presented in the Lawyer as Peacemaker course and the articles from this issue. The peacemaking mediation allows the parties more control over their legal disputes and allows the control of the costs that come with litigation. Peacemaking involves a holistic and collaborative method, involving mental health professionals to financial advisors as well as legal professionals. However, peacemaking skill courses are not readily available to many law students while studying in law school. This valuable asset should be made available more extensively to law students interested in family law.