Foundations in Constructive Dialogue
A Workshop for Law School Student Leaders
Foundations in Constructive Dialogue for Law School Student Leaders is a five-hour workshop designed to equip law students with the skills to engage across differences with curiosity, clarity, and confidence. Through structured exercises and real-world scenarios, participants learn how to foster inquiry, navigate disagreement constructively, and strengthen trust within their communities.
Grounded in CDI’s evidence-based, nonpartisan framework, this workshop prepares student leaders to model dialogue and reinforce free expression in classrooms, residence halls, student organizations, and campus-wide events.
Focused on practical, peer-to-peer application
A skill-building leadership workshop grounded in behavioral science
Designed to strengthen inquiry, dialogue, and free expression
Program Format
Foundations in Constructive Dialogue for Student Leaders is offered as a private cohort.
- Delivered as a half-day, in-person workshop (5 hours)
- Designed for cohort-based participation
- Best delivered in retreat or structured leadership setting
Who Should Attend this Program
- Resident advisors
- Orientation leaders
- Student government representatives
- Dialogue or civic engagement leaders
- Peer mentor and facilitators
Concepts Covered
Understand how social context and positionality influence participation, perspective-taking, and conflict on campus.
Common Use Cases
- Leadership retreats
- Orientation programs
- Launching a campus dialogue initiative
- Preparing student leaders for high-profile campus moments
- Strengthening peer facilitation capacity
By the end of this program, participants will:
- Build your facilitator toolkit – You’ll shift from being just a participant in conversations to someone who can guide them. We’ll practice skills like inviting stories, listening for values, and asking questions.
- Create campus spaces where dialogue thrives – You’ll learn how to set group intentions, invite everyone’s voice, keep discussions intentional, and structure dialogue so it doesn’t spiral off track. These moves help you create spaces on campus where mutual respect and genuine curiosity are the norm.
- Respond to conflict with confidence – When things get tense, controversial, or awkward, you’ll be ready. Through practice and scenarios, you’ll try out strategies like asking open-ended questions, listening for values, redirecting with structure, and using the BIN framework to move a stuck conversation forward.
I really felt like we kept moving and that every second was useful and not just filler content. It was at an appropriate and not reductive level for us as law students and in a way that we can practically use.
I found this tool to be an effective way to almost market my takes and viewpoints to other student leaders by engaging with the workshop so anyone who may have had preconceived notions about who I am or what I stand for could have slightly more insight.
I think the program is good to help keep certain things in mind for student leaders. A lot of people may initially think that these things are obvious, but it’s always good to refresh them.
I really felt like we kept moving and that every second was useful and not just filler content. It was at an appropriate and not reductive level for us as law students and in a way that we can practically use.
I found this tool to be an effective way to almost market my takes and viewpoints to other student leaders by engaging with the workshop so anyone who may have had preconceived notions about who I am or what I stand for could have slightly more insight.
I think the program is good to help keep certain things in mind for student leaders. A lot of people may initially think that these things are obvious, but it’s always good to refresh them.
