Negotiation Training for County Leaders
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The Association of Minnesota Counties is again partnering with the Dispute Resolution Institute at Mitchell Hamline School of Law
to offer a negotiation training this coming spring.
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2-Day Negotiation Training for County Leaders Dates: Wednesday, April 22 and Thursday April 23, 2026 Daily Schedule: 9am-4pm, including lunch and breaks. Follow this link for a detailed agenda. Questions: If you have any questions about this program |
Training Description
Consistently ranked in the top dispute resolution programs in the country by U. S. News & World Report
Negotiation is never easy, and the diverse settings in which public officials negotiate pose unique challenges. Success demands thoughtful preparation, strong listening and questioning skills, and strategic tactical execution at the bargaining table.
This 2-day program was developed with county leaders in mind. Participants will improve their ability to engage in difficult conversations, build trust among diverse constituencies, formulate and present “yes-able” offers, as well as implement stalemate-breaking strategies. During this highly interactive training, attendees will learn how best to:
• Prepare effectively for any negotiation
• Appreciate the importance of listening for “interests” and the constructive role of information gathering throughout the negotiation process
• Maintain genuine curiosity and constructive distance when engaged in difficult conversations
• Craft effective proposals, including when and how to make concessions and advocate for sensible trade-offs between issues
• Increase self-awareness of negotiation strengths and weaknesses
• Develop a post-certificate program plan for improvement of negotiation skills
Who Should Attend?
This training is ideal for county leaders involved in negotiations as part of their duties, as well as anyone looking to develop their negotiation skills.
Training Leader
 James R. Coben is emeritus professor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law and a senior fellow in the law school’s internationally acclaimed Dispute Resolution Institute (DRI), which he directed from 2000-2009. He taught civil dispute resolution (civil procedure), advocacy, mediation, negotiation, and a variety of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) courses, including psychology and the law. He was the founding director of Hamline University’s Master in the Study of Law (MSL) program and also pioneered a variety of innovative ADR clinical opportunities for law students, including mediation advocacy on behalf of clients in employment and family law cases. During his tenure as DRI director, he co-founded three ADR study abroad programs–an international commercial arbitration program in London, an international business transactions negotiation program in Rome, and a program in democratic dialogue and mediation in Budapest.
Professor Coben has published numerous ADR related articles and is a co-author of the Thomson Reuters trial practice series treatise Mediation: Law, Policy & Practice (2024), a co-editor of the four-volume Rethinking Negotiation Teaching Series (DRI Press 2009-2013), and a former editorial board member of the American Bar Association’s Dispute Resolution Magazine, for which he co-writes a Research Insights featured column. As a consultant and trainer, he works with law firms and non-profit companies, as well as state and local government boards and agencies, to improve negotiation skills and the quality of public deliberation and decision-making. As a facilitator, he plans and conducts strategic planning and helps private and public organizations to build and maintain a culture of collaboration. |