EUGENE–University of Oregon School of Law graduate Gary Galton feels so strongly about the importance of including alternatives to litigation in legal education that he donated seed money to establish a new program at his alma mater.

Galton, a labor lawyer from Lake Oswego, along with his wife, Anne Marie, donated $211,000 to the UO School of Law to establish the new Appropriate Dispute Resolution (ADR) Program. Started this summer, the new program will expand upon previous ADR offerings at the law school and educate students about various ways in which disputes can be resolved, including negotiation, mediation, arbitration and litigation.

"I often prevailed in court for my clients, but I began to question, what were they really ‘winning?’ When I considered the expense, lost opportunities, time spent and damaged relationships, it was clear there had to be a better way," says Galton, who also operates a mediation practice in Palm Desert, Calif. "I have had great satisfaction as my mediation practice has grown and I am so pleased that I am able to help the next generation of lawyers begin to appreciate this important approach to problem solving."

The UO law school has been incorporating courses in Appropriate Dispute Resolution into its curriculum for many years and at one time operated a federally funded mediation clinic. The Galton gift will provide more comprehensive and consistent ADR offerings that will be integrated into the traditional law school curriculum. Interested faculty will receive financial support and consultation with ADR experts to incorporate ADR issues effectively into their courses. The program will cover process options, strategies and skills in a broad array of legal areas including business, torts, family, labor, real estate, intellectual property, public planning and policy, and community and international relations.

"I am very grateful to the Galtons, our faculty and administrators, for helping us establish the ADR program," says Lisa Kloppenberg, an associate professor of law who directs the ADR program. "This will enable us to train students to be creative problem solvers who will be able to generate many options to resolve disputes early and effectively. We believe this will lead to better dispute resolution for clients, the courts and society."

ADR is a rapidly growing area of legal practice. The UO law school recently helped train mediators for the Environmental Mediation Pilot program involving the U.S. District Court for Oregon, the Western Justice Foundation and the U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution. The law school’s task force for the 21st century also received a significant amount of input from legal practitioners and the community at large about the need for alternatives to litigation in legal education.

"ADR is one of the most important developments in the legal world today," says Michael Hogan, chief judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon. "It is wonderful to see the UO law school increase its teaching and research in this area to improve the problem-solving skills of lawyers."

The Galton family has a history of giving to the UO law school. Gary Galton’s father, Herb Galton, is a 1938 graduate of the law school who established a UO scholarship that Gary later supplemented. Gary Galton also serves on the law school Board of Visitors and volunteered his time as a guest lecturer at the school.

"This is a particularly meaningful gift because the Galtons have given to the law school in many ways, including their time, ideas and long-term support," says Rennard Strickland, UO law school dean.

A special kick-off event for the new ADR program will be held on Nov. 10, featuring Judge Dorothy Nelson of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals as keynote speaker. The event will be part of a legal conference highlighting current ADR issues.

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