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Careers in Conflict Resolution
Prospective students often wonder what their career options are with a degree in the field of conflict resolution. Well, to be completely truthful, it is usually the spouses of prospective students who are most concerned about career opportunities. The field is broad, and ranges from private practice to employment with agencies. The student's background is a critical factor. This page will provide links and information relating to careers in alternative dispute resolution.
The December 19, 2007 issue of US News and World Report is devoted to careers, and they listed "mediator" as one of the 31 top careers, with $66,800 median pay. Remember that means that half of all mediators make less and half make more. One of our former students who spent 20 years litigating in a prestigious law firm says he makes more money since he went out on his own and devoted his practice to mediation. We also have graduates serving around the world in very low paying positions that have a large impact on people's lives.
Full-time mediation jobs are not common, although the number is growing rapidly. There are such positions, just as there are lawyers who spend most of their time in the courtroom. Most lawyers spend most of their time alone at a desk, and in the same way most people in conflict resolution careers have other responsibilities as well. Those who work for non-profit organizations which use volunteer mediators spend most of their time making it possible for others to do mediation. University-based mediators usually have teaching or administrative loads as well. Like most interesting and fulfilling work, conflict resolution has a lot of boring parts, no matter what a person thinks is boring. This is not the field to aspire to if you only feel good going 600 miles an hour with your hair on fire. The movie Top Gun is about naval aviators, not mediators. On the other hand, a conflict resolution practice has enough adrenaline-laced moments for most people. For the others, central California offers rock climbing and white water rafting.
Universities are now hiring conflict resolution practitioners as Assistant Dean of Students, or some similar role devoted to working through the many campus issues that arise. Positions that used to be seen as the disciplinarian are now seen as conflict resolution positions. The same goes for high schools and corporations.
Relief and development organizations are rapidly adding conflict specialists to their teams, usually known these days as peacebuilding specialists. Nearly every major international NGO is trying to fill such positions. This is an area where people with prior experience in relief and development and education in conflict resolution have many opportunities. Language abilities can be important and those with experience in less common languages have special opportunities. The United Nations and its programs have many openings that fit such people, as does USAID. Our program prepares people for these roles.
United States government agencies are regularly advertising for conflict specialists to work in their alternative dispute resolution programs.
Those interested in the restorative justice field will find many opportunities with probation or social service departments, in addition to the more expected non-profit organizations.
In the specific area of university teaching the field has changed rapidly, and it is now rare to see a U.S. or Canada university teaching job advertised that does not require a Ph.D. or J.D., even though there are still very few people with a Ph.D. or J.D. specifically focused on conflict resolution. CPACS offers a cooperative J.D. / M.A. degree which allows for a balance in conlict reolution and law training. There is also a great divergence between those who read books and those who practice conflict resolution. Jobs seeking candidates who only read books will want a Ph.D. while those wanting someone who has experience doing conflict resolution will be more open to various paths of preparation. Those interested in teaching outside North America or Europe have a very different situation, particularly in less developed countries, where international NGOs may want to place workers with an M.A. or less in universities and local programs.
Those who want a private practice need to realize that it is a slow and difficult process to develop any professional practice. Your background may be the most important aspect of developing a successful practice, with your training being much less interesting to potential clients.
Our faculty will be happy to discuss career issues with prospective students. Who do you want to be?
Jobs links
Last modified January 28, 2008.
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