Fordham Law students from the Dispute Resolution Society are working with the Bronx School of Young Leaders to bring dispute resolution strategies into the eighth grade classroom. The first session of the monthly presentations took place on Jan. 31, with the fourth and last session slated for April 25.
DRS students meet with the eighth graders virtually once a month, giving lessons that teach the principles of alternative dispute resolution and negotiation.
“We were looking for a project that could integrate the tools we use in DRS for negotiation, mediation, and arbitration competitions, while still engaging with the community and giving back in some way,” said DRS Community Service Editor Cameron Kasanzew ’23.
For the first class, students learned about the benefits of alternative dispute resolutions and the different steps involved in preparing negotiations. The second class took the students through a fictional negotiation problem involving an MMA fighter and video game company. For the third and fourth classes, students will prepare their arguments on both sides of the video game negotiation and present in front of their class and DRS judges, who will provide feedback.
“It’s teaching them how to safeguard what they need while also creating a successful partnership,” said Kasanzew. “We try to make it as engaging and exciting as possible while still reminding them that this is something that is, at the end of the day, really a life skill.”
Corinthian Morston, dean of students for the eighth grade and a school counselor at the Bronx School of Young Leaders, said students have so far been receptive, with several expressing interest in studying law even before the sessions began.
“Right now, we’re also focusing on college awareness, so for the [eighth grade] students to learn this lesson from law students is big,” said Morston. “As teachers, sometimes what we say doesn’t connect with students, but hearing it from law students that are successfully doing it has been great. They’re really enjoying the program, and looking forward to doing their negotiation presentations in the next couple of weeks.”
For DRS member Ashley Qamar ’23, a first generation American and former New York City public school student, participating in the program held a personal connection.
“I really felt that I could relate to the kids,” Qamar said. “Now, as an adult, I’m seeing that mediation and negotiation skills are important for me to have, not only as an individual, but to share with my family and my community.”
For first generation students whose parents don’t speak English, developing these skills can be especially important, Qamar says.
“I talked to the students about the fact that when you’re first generation—and especially if your parents don’t speak English—there are a lot of responsibilities that you take on at a young age,” she said. “Being able to help your parents and other people in your life navigate difficult conversations is important.”
“This is something that I will continue to do as an attorney once I graduate law school,” Qamar said. “I want to continue to uplift students who look like me and work with them so that they can achieve their goals.”