Internship Experience

Interns at CPR participate in the organization's research and activities to expose them to the organization's cutting-edge advocacy for the increased use of and development of commercial conflict resolution. CPR's work varies--no intern will have the same experience. Typically interns conduct research and compose content for CPR’s website, CLE courses, publications and articles. Interns also conduct background research for programs by CPR's Industry and Practice Committees, and for Institute-wide surveys and studies.

Recent illustrative projects handled by interns:

• Writing and publishing articles on cases, legislation and other ADR developments in CPR's monthly newsletter, Alternatives, which is published on multiple platforms internationally, and for CPR’s blog, CPR Speaks.
  
  
• Assisting in-house counsel, law firm attorneys and CPR executive staff in preparation for panel presentations and speeches by researching legal issues and preparing memoranda on emerging topics in dispute resolution, for example cybersecurity in international arbitration, attorney-client privilege in mediation and the impact of the #MeToo movement on the future of dispute resolution.
  
  
• Conduct legal database research for new developments in ADR cases and legislation, review cases and compile write-ups for noteworthy cases, developments and events, which often are posted on CPR's website, blog and social media. Interns have written on a wide variety of issues for CPR, many of which can be seen by searching for "interns" on CPR Speaks.
  
  
• Attend UNCITRAL Working Group II at the United Nations as a part of the CPR delegation.
  
  
• Observe an arbitration or mediation.
  
  
• Attend and take minutes at CPR Committee meetings.
  
  
• Write abstracts of books selected for awards from CPR.
  
  
• Attend and assist with CPR's Annual Meeting.
  
  
• Create hypothetical based on recent bar association ethics opinions.
  
  
• Attend oral arguments on ADR issues of importance and draft a report of the argument.

CPR's Intern Testimonials

"My internship at CPR has proven to be an incredibly enriching experience. The opportunity to delve into a variety of dispute resolution topics, contribute to pieces featured on Speaks, the CPR blog, and witness the integration of my research into CPR materials has been profoundly rewarding. Each task I undertook not only expanded my knowledge but also the feedback I received played an integral role in honing my professional skills and expertise.

Delving into the inner workings of a distinguished dispute resolution think tank and a leading dispute resolution provider has been undeniably fascinating. I am confident that the insights I've acquired during my time here will undoubtedly serve me well in my future endeavors.

What truly distinguishes CPR, however, is the collective of professionals that make up its community. These individuals not only exhibited exceptional prowess in their respective roles but also displayed a genuine interest in my personal journey and career aspirations. Their willingness to mentor and guide has been an invaluable aspect of my internship experience."

-Caterina Cesario, Cardozo School of Law, New York, NY

"I have had an amazing experience working as an intern for CPR. During my first month at the organization, I assisted in writing various blogs for CPR Speaks covering essential topics like the Need for Diversity in ADR and the Growth of ADR in Developing Nations. I was lucky to attend many CPR meetings with industry leaders and legal experts in ADR. During my internship with CPR, I also researched topics that require attention from the masses, such as diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession. I also got a chance to enhance my mediation skills by observing live mediation sessions with some of the best mediators in the nation. Having an opportunity to observe the experts in their profession has taught me invaluable lessons. I look forward to learning more about the field of ADR."

-Arjan Bir Singh Sodhi, Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law, Malibu, CA

"As a CPR Intern, I spend most of my time researching, attending committee meetings and CLE’s, and observing ADR proceedings to deepen my understanding of the advancements in the various ADR processes. Then, I have the opportunity to write for the CPR Speaks Blog to help keep the larger CPR community informed about suggestions, changes, and data-driven conclusions regarding different ADR processes."

-Tamia Sutherland, Howard University School of Law, Washington, D.C.

"My interests are in international human rights and ADR. I am excited to be a part of the CPR team to learn more about thought leadership and dispute prevention. I would love to merge my passion for human rights into my interest with ADR by using dispute resolution and mediations to tackle issues in human rights law.

"At CPR, I have had the opportunity to write for CPR Speaks about Servotronics being taken off of the SCOTUS docket [in the fall of 2021], and the Badgerow case [argued in the same term]. This week I have attended committee meetings at the ABA’s Annual Business Meeting, where I am learning about ADR developments and other business developments.

"I have had a great start to my internship at CPR and I cannot wait to learn more about ADR during my time at CPR."

-Bryanna Rainwater, Brooklyn Law School, Brooklyn, N.Y.

“I have greatly enjoyed working with the very sharp and helpful CPR team. Participating in committee meetings and discussing ADR one-on-one with different CPR officials has been invaluable in gaining the insights of prominent dispute resolution practitioners. Likewise, having the opportunity to observe various mediations conducted by CPR partners has given me a very useful understanding of when, whether, where, and how to apply much of the theory that I was exposed to in school.”

“While at CPR, I even enriched my understanding of commercial diplomacy in which I worked for over 20 years: writing an article for Alternatives on commercial diplomacy enabled me a gain the perspective of that field more as a dispute resolution mechanism rather than purely as a foreign policy or trade promotion discipline.”

-Jim Cunningham, University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law, Columbia, MO

“My internship experience at CPR has been nothing short of amazing. I am a rising 2L at Howard University School of Law. As a student in the ADR summer consortium program, my school matched me with CPR to gain practical experience and learn about the field of ADR.

“The program jump-started with a variety of exciting assignments. I gained an immediate interest in projects focused on diversity within the field of ADR. On my first day, I attended a task force meeting focused on increasing the selection of diverse neutrals and contributed my thoughts to the substantive work product. After the meeting, I was asked to complete a research project to help the task force and also began working on a toolkit to accompany CPR’s Diversity Commitment. Through these assignments, I have learned about the importance of diversity in ADR, as well as various opportunities for diverse individuals in the field.

“Furthermore, I am in the process of completing two blog posts for CPR’s website about the important role ombuds can play in preventing legal disputes in corporations and universities and other ADR issues. I will also be observing a mediation this week. As my internship continues, I look forward to learning more about the field of ADR through my various assignments. CPR is a stellar organization for law students to gain experience in the ADR field.”

-Daneisha LaTorre, Howard University School of Law, Washington, D.C.

“I love my internship experience at CPR. As a transactional lawyer who recently became interested in ADR as a new career path, I enrolled in Cardozo Law School’s LLM program in ADR, which brought me to the internship at CPR.

“CPR has given me unparalleled experience in many cutting-edge issues. I am particularly interested in CPR’s pioneering dispute prevention program, which brings together leading practitioners to explore innovative ways to manage conflicts. In the weeks ahead, I will be facilitating the team in building up the dispute prevention database with articles, blogs, and interviews of practitioners for the latest insights. I have already published three pieces on cases pending before the US Supreme Court, ADR in China, and a controversial California case. I will also be sharing the highlights of various Harvard PON programs on upcoming blogs for CPR.

“I also feel fortunate to have had the chance to participate in CPR’s Mediation Committee. The committee just held a lively roundtable on recent case developments. Through this committee, I got to meet ADR coordinators of U.S. court systems and learn from their work first-hand.

“Finally, it has been a complete surprise that this CPR internship will be taking me to the United Nations. The UNCITRAL Secretariat has invited CPR to participate in its 54th session as an observer delegation representing its views to facilitate UNCITRAL’s working group’s deliberations. CPR has given me the incredible opportunity to join the CPR delegation as an observer.

I look forward to the additional opportunities that CPR will present me in the weeks ahead. But most importantly, the best part about this CPR internship has been the warmth and support that the entire staff provides to the interns as we learn and grow professionally."

-Mylene Chan, Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law, Malibu, CA

“Even as someone who came into this internship with a good amount of experience in ADR, the sheer breadth of CPR's activities in the ADR space is impressive. In the few weeks I have been at CPR, I have been able to observe and take part in conversations with thought leaders across multiple spheres of ADR, including mediation, arbitration, and dispute prevention. ADR professionals of all stripes come to CPR to discuss and debate fundamental questions about how we engage in conflict. Being part of these conversations is an unparalleled chance for me to think about my own career path and personal philosophy of conflict.

“During my internship, I have researched a variety of legal issues related to ADR, including diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in the context of ADR, and arbitration and mediation policy changes. I am also looking forward to engaging with CPR's new Technology Advisory Committee later in the summer. The intersection of technology and conflict is the area of ADR that I most excited about right now, so the opportunity to work with CPR in this area feels very special. To top it all off, I am getting to observe mediations with CPR's expert mediators. As someone with some limited mediation experience, I find observations to be invaluable to my growth as a mediator.”

-Cai Phillips, Yeshiva University's Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, New York City

“I am enjoying my experience working with the team at CPR. During my first month here, I assisted in writing for the CPR speaks blog to brief a pending Supreme Court case addressing international arbitration, dove into researching a set of ADR guidelines, and worked to learn the process behind CPR’s Dispute Resolution Services. I have also been lucky to attend many CPR committee meetings to learn more about each group, meet some of the committee members, and better understand their ideas in the context of ADR. There is a great culture and team at CPR and I have felt welcome from my very first day.”

-Jacqueline Perrotta, Brooklyn Law School, Brooklyn, NY

"As a summer intern, I had a front-row seat to a wide range of CPR’s operations. The CPR team went above and beyond my expectations to ensure this summer was a positive and beneficial experience for the interns. Not only did my CPR internship provide great exposure to the world of ADR, but it also turned out to be a fantastic opportunity to work with and learn from a talented, dedicated, and congenial team of individuals."

-Lucy McKinstry, Duke University School of Law, Durham, NC 

"This was one of the most productive summers of my life. My first day as an intern at CPR, President Obama announced that he was nominating Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court. As soon as I got to the office, I began to diligently research Sotomayor’s judicial ADR history. [We] were able to write and post articles on the website shortly thereafter. Interns at CPR always feel like an essential part of the team. From day one, the staff here immediately trusted me with challenging yet important and enjoyable responsibilities that motivated me to learn more about dispute resolution and prevention."

-Andrew Gange, University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law, Columbia, MO