UC Law San Francisco (Formerly UC Hastings)

Certificate in Legal Research Program: International Law Research (Zoom)
2026-02-24 12:30 - 13:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Zoom, San Francisco, CA, United States
Earn your Certificate in Legal Research – and a notation on your transcript – or just attend to learn how to research international law. This session will take place on Zoom: https://uclawsf.zoom.us/j/96511676078 (passcode on Canvas).
You are free to attend as few or as many classes as you like; however, to complete the program, you must attend a minimum of 5 live classes and earn 100% on 12 online quizzes by the time you graduate. To find out more about the program, go to: https://www.uclawsf.edu/academics/library/legal-research-cert-program.

Markets and Machines Symposium
2026-02-25 10:45 - 18:30 | 333 Deb Colloquium and Sky Deck, 5th Floor Cotchett Law Center, 333 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 94102, United States
UC Law Science and Technology Journal + Business Law Journal 2026 Symposium
Wednesday, February 25, 2026 – Deb Colloquium, 333 Golden Gate Ave. San Francisco, CA 94102
10:45 AM – 11:00 AM – Opening Remarks

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Panel 1: Institutionalizing Digital Assets
Structuring and Governing Digital Asset Markets
■ Troy Foster, Firmwide Co-Chair, Perkins Coie
■ Joseph Cutler, Firmwide Chair, Perkins Coie
■ Sarah Shtylam, Partner, Perkins Coie
■ Zeeve Rose, Counsel, Perkins Coie

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM – Panel 2: Business Judgment in Practice
Legal Judgment in Real-World Business Contexts
■ Charles Tait Graves, Partner, Wilson Sonsini
■ Kimberly Booher, Partner, Pierson Ferdinand
■ Kimberly Culp, Counsel, Fenwick
■ Evan Epstein, Executive Director, Business Law Center, UC Law SF

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM – Lunch Break

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM – Panel 3: Technology Operations and Risk
Operational Perspectives on Innovation and Risk
■ Vineet Shahani, General Counsel, Mill; former Legal Director, Google
■ Sergio VeLarde, Senior Legal Corporate Counsel, Visa
■ Neal Jagtap, General Counsel, aiXplain

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM – Panel 4: Emerging Technology Perspectives
Enterprise Approaches to New Technologies
■ Carol Hee, VP Real Estate Legal and Compliance, SEPHORA
■ Emilie Lavirotte, Senior Advisor, Intellectual Property, SEPHORA
■ Léo Murgel, SVP and Head of Operations, Legal and Corporate Affairs, Salesforce
■ Nelson Pineda Lam, Senior Counsel, Uber

4:00 PM – 4:15 PM – Closing Remarks

4:15 PM – 6:30 PM – Networking Happy Hour

CEALS & CBL Present - Chinese Investment in the United States: Market Entry, Compliance, and Geopolitical Risk
2026-02-25 16:30 - 18:00 | Alumni Reception Center, 200 McAllister St, San Francisco, 94102, United States
For over a decade, China’s annual outbound investment has placed it among the top three sources of outbound investment globally. Prior to the U.S.-China trade war, the U.S. market was a top destination for Chinese investment. As geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China rise, the flow of new Chinese investment to the U.S. is slowing, and Chinese firms are grappling with complex new legal, business, and regulatory challenges. The Center for East Asian Legal Studies and the Center for Business Law are pleased to welcome a distinguished panel of practitioners and advisors to share current insights on the operation and challenges of Chinese firms in the U.S. market.

Panelists include Kevin Cao, Partner at K&L Gates; Darlene Chiu-Bryant, Executive Director of Global SF; Jenny Liu, Partner at Pillsbury, and Keliang (Clay) Zhu, Partner at DeHeng Law Offices.
Sponsors: Center for East Asian Legal Studies and the Center for Business Law

This event is open to the public.

Time: 4:30 to 6:00pm on Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Location: Alumni Reception Center at University of California College of the Law, San Francisco.
A reception will follow the panel.

RSVP here

Pedagogy in Tumultuous Times
2026-02-27 09:00 - 18:00
Background
Higher education and legal education are facing profound challenges that can impact all student learning, particularly across a wide range of learning styles and backgrounds. Added to this is the uncertainty currently surrounding the California Bar Examination and the national shift to the NextGen Bar Exam.
These present a unique opportunity for the West Coast Academic Support and Bar Professionals, and broader law school community to come together, share resources, build community, and strengthen our pedagogy. This conference will center on how we are adapting to an evolving landscape to best support student success.
For a decade, Academic Support/Bar Professionals on the West Coast gathered annually for a regional conference, and given these challenging times, it is the perfect moment to also revive this important tradition.
Co-Sponsors
We are honored to have this conference sponsored by AccessLex Institute and UC Law San Francisco.

Conference Schedule

TimeTopicPresenters

9:00-9:30 AMIntroduction

9:30-10:30 AMFood for Thought: A Recipe for Responding to California and NextGen Bar Exam ChangesNydia Johnson, Southwestern Law School, Associate Dean for Academic Success & Bar Preparation; Jessica Barclay-Strobel, Associate Professor of Academic Success and Bar Preparation Southwestern Law School; Mary Basick, Assistant Dean for Academic Skills, UC Irvine Law School; Katie Moran, Associate Professor, Co-Director of Academic and Bar Exam Success program, University of San Francisco School of Law

10:30-10:45 AMBREAK

10:45-11:30 AMAccommodating Justice: The Fragmented Path to Legal Licensure for Students with DisabilitiesToni Miceli, Arizona State University Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, Professor of Practice; Director, Bar Exam Success

11:30-11:45 AMBREAK

11:45-12:15 PMLeast Common Denominator: Finding the right focus for early bar support in times of transitionChris Fromm, Themis Bar Review/UC Law San Francisco/Santa Clara University School of Law School/University of Denver Sturm College of Law, Executive Director of Curriculum and Assessment; Adjunct Professor of Law; Lecturer

12:15-1:30 PMLUNCH

1:30-2:30 PMThe Evolving Landscape of Academic Success and Professional Licensure in the Pacific NorthwestAngela Ruocco, University of Oregon School of Law, Director of Bar & Licensure;
Carrie Sanford, University of Washington School of Law, Associate Teaching Professor, Director of Academic Success

2:30-2:45 PMBREAK

2:45-3:30 PMMindset Mastery for the Bar Exam & Law PracticeRaef Granger, William S. Boyd School of Law at Univ. of Nevada Las Vegas, Assistant Professor in Residence and Assistant Director of the Academic Success Program

3:30-3:45 PMBREAK

3:45-4:45 PMMetacognitive Mirror: Teaching Students How to Learn in an AI WorldTori Timmons, UC Law SF (formerly UC Hastings) Professor of Practice

4:45-5:00 PMFinal Remarks

5:00 PMJoin Attendees and Presenters for Bites & Collaboration

Hotel Accommodations
There is no registration fee to attend this conference. However, all participants, including presenters are responsible for covering their own travel expenses.
After registering for the conference, you can reserve accommodations at one of the partner hotels below, which are offering discounted rates for UC Law SF attendees:

The Proper Hotel San Francisco
📍 45 McAllister St, San Francisco, CA 94102🔗 Booking Link – Special Rate for UC Law SF
InterContinental Hotel San Francisco
📍 888 Howard St, San Francisco, CA 94103
🔗 Booking Link – Special Rate for UC Law SF
The Marker Union Square San Francisco Hotel
📍 501 Geary St, San Francisco, CA 94102
🔗 Booking Link – Special Rate for UC Law SF
Corporate Code: NEGUCLS

RSVP to Attend this Event
Submit a Proposal to Present at this Event

Fundamentals of Mediation
2026-03-02 08:30 - 2026-03-06 18:00 | 198-213
A 40-hour basic mediation training program, including certificate of completion and optional MCLE credit.
The UC Law SF Center for Negotiation and Dispute Resolution (CNDR) presents its’ annual 40-hour comprehensive mediation practitioner training. This program provides a unique blend of mediation theory, hands-on mediation skills training, and an exploration of the sensibilities and personal qualities required to be an effective mediator.
This in-person program is useful for a range of professionals who deal with people in conflict, and any attorney who represents clients in mediation, to understand the process and to be more effective in representing clients in mediation. We also encourage participation of international attorneys, notaries and Hastings LL.M. students. No prior training or experience required.

In this highly interactive and dynamic training, participants from around the world learn the theory and practice of mediation. The methodology consists of a mixture of discussion, skill building exercises and role play. All participants will have the opportunity to practice multiple times in the client, advocate and mediator roles and will receive personalized feedback and coaching from professional mediators.
We start with the psychology and behavior of people in conflict and the different process choices parties can make when seeking to resolve conflict. We examine the different styles or models of mediation and the implications of those models for the client experience. We then explore and practice every phase of a mediation, from opening and setting the stage, to exploration of interests and issues, negotiating agreements, preparation of settlement documents and closure.

Combined with the practice of these phases, participants build critical communication and process management skills including how to:

Maintain neutrality
Balance power
Select appropriate influencing strategies
Decide whether, when and how to use private sessions (“caucus”)
Facilitate the “money dance”
Conduct a methodical alternatives analysis
Employ techniques for overcoming impasse
Convey “difficult” messages
Use active listening
Ask questions to move the clients in helpful directions
Handle difficult behavior and “reframe” problematic statements

Finally, we cover mediator ethics, process confidentiality, working with representatives and co-mediation.

What participants have to say:
“Fantastic! So happy I chose this program, it blew away my expectations. The role playing was especially valuable to measure progress and enforce the teaching.” – BT 2022

“I quit my job as a teacher to work in the Office of Civil Rights doing in-house dispute resolution and mediation. I could not have gotten this position without taking CNDR’s Fundamentals of Mediation Training, and I am so grateful for all of the skills I gained. I re-read Prof. Ford’s Peace at Work and feel even more prepared to take on this next challenge.” – BL, 2024

Format
All 40 hours will take place in-person during a live class, including small group role plays with individualized coaching. Each day includes 1.5 hours of total breaks.
Dates
Monday, March 2 – Friday, March 6, 2026 from 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. each day (PST)
Location
UC Law SF, 198 McAllister, San Francisco, CA 94102 (in-person training only)
MCLE
40 hours of California MCLE credits available, including 1.5 hrs Elimination of Bias and 2 hrs Legal Ethics. Be sure to select the “add on” for MCLE credit at checkout. MCLE Provider #9545.
Registration

Standard Registration Fee – $2,295
Alumni, Government, and Nonprofit Rate – $2,095

REGISTER HERE

Registration closes one week prior to the training, or when enrollments have reached maximum capacity, whichever comes first.
Another training will be offered August 31 – September 4, 2026. See more information here.
Questions to CNDR@uclawsf.edu.

Instructor

Adjunct Professor John Ford, BA LLB (UCT) is an experienced workplace mediator and soft-skills trainer. John studied law at the University of Cape Town before moving to Namibia, where he practiced from 1988 to 1995. Initially, he focused on representing survivors of human-rights abuses. After Namibian independence in 1990, his focus shifted to labor and employment law. John moved to California in 1996 and trained as a mediator. He has since successfully mediated hundreds of workplace disputes, and has worked with numerous teams to help them deal successfully with conflict.
John has provided training to thousands of employees at all levels in the workplace, across a wide range of industries. His workshops focus on the development of soft skills, such as communication, negotiation, facilitation, conflict resolution, emotional intelligence, customer service and mediation. He is a past president of the Association for Dispute Resolution of Northern California (ADRNC), and was the managing editor of www.mediate.com from 2000 to 2011.

Cancellation Policy
For all CNDR events, cancellations on or before 30 days prior to the event will receive a full refund, minus an administrative fee of 7% of ticket price. Cancellations after 30 days prior to the event will receive a 50% refund. Cancellations on or after 5 days prior to the event will not receive a refund.
ADA Accommodations Statement
The University of California College of the Law, San Francisco is committed to making its facilities and events accessible in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you need reasonable accommodations, please contact CNDR at 415-581-8941 or CNDR@uclawsf.edu, or the Disability Access Hotline at 415-581-4848 or DAH@uclawsf.edu at least two weeks before the event.
Use of Materials Notice
The UC Law SF Center for Negotiation and Dispute Resolution (CNDR) hereby irrevocably grants registrants/participants a limited, nonexclusive, non-transferable, royalty-free right and license to use materials provided and distributed by CNDR and/or UC Law SF in the course of the training herein for purposes of participation and personal/internal, non-commercial reference purposes.
Code of Conduct
The UC Law SF Center for Negotiation and Dispute Resolution (CNDR) is dedicated to ensuring that its events and gatherings are an inclusive, respectful, productive, and harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, alienage or citizenship status, physical or mental ability, color, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, national origin, marital status or partnership status, pregnancy or lactation status, religion or creed, status as a veteran or active military service member or any other basis protected by U.S. federal, state, or local laws.
When participating in or attending a CNDR event, the following behaviors are expected:

Be present, timely, open-minded, and participate actively.
Act with respect and dignity towards everyone you encounter, including participants, staff, instructors, and coaches.
Be considerate and collegial in your speech and actions, valuing a diversity of views and opinions.
To support a participatory learning environment for everyone, be mindful of how much time you use (e.g. in discussions or Q&A sessions).
Behave in accordance with professional standards (such as your employer’s policies, or applicable law).
Alert on-premises security personnel and staff if you notice a dangerous situation or someone clearly in distress, or call 911 in case of an emergency.

Harassment, bullying, non-consensual physical contact, threats, microaggressions, intimidation, and/or insinuations that are hurtful or interfere with any other attendee’s experience or participation are examples of behaviors which are unacceptable and could be cause for removal from a CNDR event.

VITA Tax Clinic
2026-03-09 17:00 - 19:00, 2026-03-16 17:00 - 19:00, 2026-03-23 17:00 - 19:00, 2026-03-30 17:00 - 19:00, 2026-04-06 17:00 - 19:00, 2026-04-13 17:00 - 19:00 | UC Law SF, 200 McAllister St, San Francisco, CA 94102, 200 McAllister, San Francisco, CA, 94102, United States
During the 2025 tax filing season, the UC Law SF Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) clinic will be in-person, located at 200 McAllister Street at Hyde in San Francisco. The clinic will run on Mondays from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, beginning February 9, 2026, through April 13, 2026, excluding February 16 and March 2. The VITA clinic is drop-in only and does not take appointments.
Please bring with you:

Photo ID & Social Security Card or ITIN for each person on your tax return
W-2 for all jobs
All 1099s, 1098s, and any other tax forms
Your household’s health coverage information, including Forms 1095-A, B, or C, if applicable
If you received the Advanced Child Tax Credit in 2023, Letter 6419
Last year’s tax return
Savings/ checking account and routing numbers for direct deposit
Clients are encouraged to wear a well-fitting mask (N95, KN95, or equivalent) on site

For more information about the VITA clinic, including what to bring with you to have your taxes prepared, please see this flyer. If you have questions, you can email us at vita@uclawsf.edu or call us at 628-207-1956.

Certificate in Legal Research Program: Using Generative AI for Legal Research (Zoom)
2026-03-10 12:30 - 13:30 | Zoom, San Francisco, CA, United States
Earn your Certificate in Legal Research – and a notation on your transcript – or just attend to learn about using generative AI for legal research. This session will take place on Zoom: https://uclawsf.zoom.us/j/91075557644 (passcode on Canvas).
You are free to attend as few or as many classes as you like; however, to complete the program, you must attend a minimum of 5 live classes and earn 100% on 12 online quizzes by the time you graduate. To find out more about the program, go to: https://www.uclawsf.edu/academics/library/legal-research-cert-program.

2026 Rutter Award Ceremony for Teaching Excellence
2026-03-11 12:30 | 200 ARC, Alumni Reception Center, 200 McAllister Street, San Francisco, CA, 94102, United States

UC Law Constitutional Quarterly Annual Symposium
2026-03-12 09:00 - 13:00 | 200 ARC, Alumni Reception Center, 200 McAllister Street, San Francisco, CA, 94102, United States
Half-day symposium focused on Voting and Election Law. Three panels which will have guest attorneys and moderators. Lunch to be served after.

CREJ - State, Local and Community Strategies to Protect Workers' Rights
2026-03-13 09:30 - 14:30 | 333 Deb Colloquium and Sky Deck, 5th Floor Cotchett Law Center, 333 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 94102, United States
Join us to discuss how state and local governments are responding to federal rollbacks of labor protections and advancing new models of economic justice. The event will also feature movement lawyers and organizers who are mobilizing to protect workers’ rights in the face of federal challenges.

Program Schedule

Time
Program

9:45 am – 10:00 am

Welcoming Remarks

10:00 am – 11:15 am

State and Local Interventions: Legal Strategies for Worker Protections

11:15 am – 11:30 am

Break

12:15 pm – 12:30 pm

Movement Lawyering in Action: Community-Based Legal Responses to Federal Rollbacks

11:30 am – 12:15 pm
Lunch Break

12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
Keynote

1:30 am – 2:30 pm
Networking Session

RSVP
RSVP to Attend In-Person
RSVP to Attend Virtually

The State of Health Policy in America: A Town Hall
2026-03-17 12:30 - 14:00 | Deb Colloquium Room, 333 Golden Gate, San Francisco, CA, United States
Join us to hear from experts about current events in health policy and law. Lunch will be provided for those that RSVP by Tuesday, March 10th.

Program Schedule

12:30 pm Welcome

12:35 pm Coverage and Affordability

12:55 pm Public Health

1:15 pm  Social Determinants of Health and Health Equity

1:35 pm What can you do?

1:50 pm Q&A

Featured Speakers

Ben Barsky, Associate Professor of Law, UC Law SF

Janet Coffman, Professor, UCSF

Thalia González, Professor of Law, UC Law SF

Katie Gudiksen, Executive Editor, The Source

Sarah Hooper, Professor of Practice, UC Law SF

George Horvath, Associate Professor of Law, UC Law SF

Emily Murphy, Professor of Law, UC Law SF

Dorit Reiss, Professor of Law, UC Law SF

RSVP to Attend In-Person

Celebrating Richard Marcus: UC Law Journal's Festschrift Issue
2026-03-30 16:00 - 18:00 | 333 Deb Colloquium and Sky Deck, 5th Floor Cotchett Law Center, 333 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 94102, United States
The Provost and Academic Dean’s Office and the UC Law Journal cordially invite you to join us in honoring Emeritus Distinguished Professor of Law and Horace O. Coil Chair in Litigation Rick Marcus and the publication of a special Festschrift issue recognizing his lifetime of scholarly achievements. The celebration will take place on March 30 at 4:00 p.m.

Speakers, all of whom contributed articles for the special journal issue, include, in addition to Professor Marcus:

UC Law SF Board of Directors member Simona Agnolucci (’06)
UC Berkeley Law Professor of Jurisprudence Andrew Bradt
Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein Founding Partner Elizabeth Cabraser
Michigan Law Emeritus Professor of Law Edward Cooper
UC Law SF Distinguished Professor Scott Dodson
UC Law SF Chancellor & Dean and Distinguished Professor David Faigman
United States District Court Judge Lee Rosenthal
Stanford Law School Professor of Law and Associate Dean Diego Zambrano

The event takes place in the Deb Colloquium Room in Cotchett Law Center (333 Golden Gate), runs from 4:oo-6:00p.m., and concludes with a reception. The event is open to UC Law SF faculty, staff, students, and alumni.
RSVP To Attend In-Person

Spring Symposium: Learning from FCI Dublin
2026-04-03 09:00 - 16:00 | 198-213
Symposium on incarceration of women and harms at FCI Dublin.

Symposium: Abolition in Teaching and Practice
2026-04-10 09:00 - 17:00 | 198 Auditorium
This symposium will explore how abolition is taught and practiced in law, community, and academic settings, emphasizing the expertise of both directly impacted people and allies.

The Moral Turn in Administrative Law
2026-05-01 09:00 - 17:00 | 333 Deb Colloquium and Sky Deck, 5th Floor Cotchett Law Center, 333 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 94102, United States
Toward a Critical Theory of Moral Administration is an in-person workshop to be held at UC Law San Francisco on Friday, May 1, 2026. The workshop provides a forum to develop ideas about and theories of “moral administration”—a trend in legal scholarship, jurisprudence, and administrative practice toward foregrounding substantive moral values as the basis for administrative law and policy. The workshop will be structured as a series of round-table style dialogues organized around broad themes such as: situating moral administration theoretically, clarifying the substantive morals that should guide administration, and methodological and practical considerations of operationalizing moral administration within a pluralist, democratic polity.
Program Schedule
Stay tuned for more details!
Hotel Accommodations
Please feel free to arrange lodging at one of the partner hotels below, which are offering discounted rates for UC Law San Francisco.

The Proper Hotel San Francisco
📍 45 McAllister St, San Francisco, CA 94102🔗 Booking Link – Special Rate for UC Law SF
InterContinental Hotel San Francisco
📍 888 Howard St, San Francisco, CA 94103
🔗 Booking Link – Special Rate for UC Law SF
The Marker Union Square San Francisco Hotel
📍 501 Geary St, San Francisco, CA 94102
🔗 Booking Link – Special Rate for UC Law SF
Corporate Code: NEGUCLS

Travel Grant / Travel Reimbursements
If you are receiving a travel grant (up to $1,000), please email your receipts to Cynthia Diaz at diazcynthia@uclawsf.edu. Per UC Law SF policy, you will need to submit a W-9 form to processes your reimbursement. You can download a blank W-9 form here.

HIV & Infant Feeding Symposium
2026-05-14 09:00 - 13:00
Join this half day online symposium to learn more about supporting women and birthing people with HIV in their infant feeding journey. Speakers will share updates on data and guidelines regarding breast/chestfeeding for people with HIV, discuss the nuances of shared decision making and the practicalities of guideline implementation across different settings, and provide materials that participants can use to advance informed free choice in infant feeding decisions, combat stigma, empower pregnant and lactating people with HIV, and change culture and policy in their institution. RSVP here.

Speaker list:

Lisa Abuogi, MD, MPH, Professor of Pediatrics, University of Colorado

Ifeyinwa Asiodu, PhD, RN, IBCLC, FAAN, Associate Professor, University of California, San Francisco, School of Nursing

Emily A. Barr, PhD, RN, CPNP-PC, CNM, ACRN, FACNM, FAAN, Associate Professor, University at Buffalo School of Nursing, Director of Translational Innovation and Maternal-Child and Family Health

Ciarra “Ci Ci” Covin, MS, HS-BCP, Director of Programs, The Well Project

Laura Cox, MS, RN, PHN

Alyssa Crawford, Informed Decision Making Toolkit, IDT

Karen Deutsch, FNP, MPH, Mother, Child and Adolescent HIV Program at UC San Diego

Kytara Epps, MPH, Public Health and Advocacy Strategist, Center for HIV Law and Policy

Jennifer McKinney MD MPH, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine

Heather O’Connor, Certified Breastfeeding Counselor

Lealah Pollock, MD MS AAHIVS, Associate Professor of Family and Community Medicine, University of California, San Francisco

Fundamentals of Mediation
2026-08-31 08:30 - 2026-09-04 18:00 | Deb Colloquium Room, 333 Golden Gate, San Francisco, CA, United States
A 40-hour basic mediation training program, including certificate of completion and optional MCLE credit.
The UC Law SF Center for Negotiation and Dispute Resolution (CNDR) presents its’ annual 40-hour comprehensive mediation practitioner training. This program provides a unique blend of mediation theory, hands-on mediation skills training, and an exploration of the sensibilities and personal qualities required to be an effective mediator.
This in-person program is useful for a range of professionals who deal with people in conflict, and any attorney who represents clients in mediation, to understand the process and to be more effective in representing clients in mediation. We also encourage participation of international attorneys, notaries and Hastings LL.M. students. No prior training or experience required.

In this highly interactive and dynamic training, participants from around the world learn the theory and practice of mediation. The methodology consists of a mixture of discussion, skill building exercises and role play. All participants will have the opportunity to practice multiple times in the client, advocate and mediator roles and will receive personalized feedback and coaching from professional mediators.
We start with the psychology and behavior of people in conflict and the different process choices parties can make when seeking to resolve conflict. We examine the different styles or models of mediation and the implications of those models for the client experience. We then explore and practice every phase of a mediation, from opening and setting the stage, to exploration of interests and issues, negotiating agreements, preparation of settlement documents and closure.

Combined with the practice of these phases, participants build critical communication and process management skills including how to:

Maintain neutrality
Balance power
Select appropriate influencing strategies
Decide whether, when and how to use private sessions (“caucus”)
Facilitate the “money dance”
Conduct a methodical alternatives analysis
Employ techniques for overcoming impasse
Convey “difficult” messages
Use active listening
Ask questions to move the clients in helpful directions
Handle difficult behavior and “reframe” problematic statements

Finally, we cover mediator ethics, process confidentiality, working with representatives and co-mediation.

What participants have to say:
“Fantastic! So happy I chose this program, it blew away my expectations. The role playing was especially valuable to measure progress and enforce the teaching.” – BT 2022

“I quit my job as a teacher to work in the Office of Civil Rights doing in-house dispute resolution and mediation. I could not have gotten this position without taking CNDR’s Fundamentals of Mediation Training, and I am so grateful for all of the skills I gained. I re-read Prof. Ford’s Peace at Work and feel even more prepared to take on this next challenge.” – BL, 2024

Format
All 40 hours will take place in-person during a live class, including small group role plays with individualized coaching. Each day includes 1.5 hours of total breaks.
Dates
Monday, August 31 – Friday, September 4, 2026 from 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. each day (PST)
Location
UC Law SF, 198 McAllister, San Francisco, CA 94102 (in-person training only)
MCLE
40 hours of California MCLE credits available, including 1.5 hrs Elimination of Bias and 2 hrs Legal Ethics. Be sure to select the “add on” for MCLE credit at checkout. MCLE Provider #9545.
Registration

Standard Registration Fee – $2,295
Alumni, Government, and Nonprofit Rate – $2,095

REGISTER HERE

Registration closes one week prior to the training, or when enrollments have reached maximum capacity, whichever comes first. Space is limited; register early.
Another training is scheduled for March 2-6, 2026. See more information here.
Questions to CNDR@uclawsf.edu.

Instructor

Adjunct Professor John Ford, BA LLB (UCT) is an experienced workplace mediator and soft-skills trainer. John studied law at the University of Cape Town before moving to Namibia, where he practiced from 1988 to 1995. Initially, he focused on representing survivors of human-rights abuses. After Namibian independence in 1990, his focus shifted to labor and employment law. John moved to California in 1996 and trained as a mediator. He has since successfully mediated hundreds of workplace disputes, and has worked with numerous teams to help them deal successfully with conflict.

John has provided training to thousands of employees at all levels in the workplace, across a wide range of industries. His workshops focus on the development of soft skills, such as communication, negotiation, facilitation, conflict resolution, emotional intelligence, customer service and mediation. He is a past president of the Association for Dispute Resolution of Northern California (ADRNC), and was the managing editor of www.mediate.com from 2000 to 2011.

Cancellation Policy
For all CNDR events, cancellations on or before 30 days prior to the event will receive a full refund, minus an administrative fee of 7% of ticket price. Cancellations after 30 days prior to the event will receive a 50% refund. Cancellations on or after 5 days prior to the event will not receive a refund.
ADA Accommodations Statement
The University of California College of the Law, San Francisco is committed to making its facilities and events accessible in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you need reasonable accommodations, please contact CNDR at 415-581-8941 or CNDR@uclawsf.edu, or the Disability Access Hotline at 415-581-4848 or DAH@uclawsf.edu at least two weeks before the event.
Use of Materials Notice
The UC Law SF Center for Negotiation and Dispute Resolution (CNDR) hereby irrevocably grants registrants/participants a limited, nonexclusive, non-transferable, royalty-free right and license to use materials provided and distributed by CNDR and/or UC Law SF in the course of the training herein for purposes of participation and personal/internal, non-commercial reference purposes.
Code of Conduct
The UC Law SF Center for Negotiation and Dispute Resolution (CNDR) is dedicated to ensuring that its events and gatherings are an inclusive, respectful, productive, and harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, alienage or citizenship status, physical or mental ability, color, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, national origin, marital status or partnership status, pregnancy or lactation status, religion or creed, status as a veteran or active military service member or any other basis protected by U.S. federal, state, or local laws.
When participating in or attending a CNDR event, the following behaviors are expected:

Be present, timely, open-minded, and participate actively.
Act with respect and dignity towards everyone you encounter, including participants, staff, instructors, and coaches.
Be considerate and collegial in your speech and actions, valuing a diversity of views and opinions.
To support a participatory learning environment for everyone, be mindful of how much time you use (e.g. in discussions or Q&A sessions).
Behave in accordance with professional standards (such as your employer’s policies, or applicable law).
Alert on-premises security personnel and staff if you notice a dangerous situation or someone clearly in distress, or call 911 in case of an emergency.

Harassment, bullying, non-consensual physical contact, threats, microaggressions, intimidation, and/or insinuations that are hurtful or interfere with any other attendee’s experience or participation are examples of behaviors which are unacceptable and could be cause for removal from a CNDR event.

International Mediation and Leadership Development Institute (IMDLI)
2026-09-14 08:00 - 2026-09-18 17:00 | 333 Deb Colloquium and Sky Deck, 5th Floor Cotchett Law Center, 333 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 94102, United States
The UC Law San Francisco Center for Negotiation and Dispute Resolution (CNDR), at the University of California College of Law, San Francisco, in partnership with the JAMS Foundation, is proud to present the International Mediation Development & Leadership Institute (IMDLI). IMDLI is intended for a diverse group of professionals—lawyers, judges, court administrators, academics, mediators, and others—interested in learning how to cultivate robust mediation ecosystems in their home countries and how to become an effective leader of mediation implementation and development. Top-level U.S. and international experts drawn from the court system, private ADR institutions, and universities will share best practices and lessons learned from decades of ADR reform experience—information that is rarely available to the public. Anticipated topics covered:

How mediation can promote access to justice and help reduce court backlogs
How to design and operate mediation centers (public/court annexed and private)
How to build capacity and ensure that such centers are sustainable into the future
How to draft mediation legislation and rules
The advantages and disadvantages of voluntary, mandatory, and judicial referral models
How to convince mediation skeptics and secure their buy-in
The social, political, economic, and legal ingredients and interventions necessary for a mediation center to thrive and for an ADR ecosystem or culture to take root
The importance of data collection and analysis
What empirical research on ADR tells us about the who, what, where, when, and how of mediation, including what works and what does not
Factors that have helped drive the success of mediation in the U.S. and other key jurisdictions

More information here.
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