I utilized DRC services by way of Mediation Training and certification. The information provided during training was mind blowing and relevant for not only professional development but also personal advancement just the same. Dispute resolution is a resource written into my organization's contracts and it has immensely impacted and benefitted my career. I recommend DRC to anyone who has a dispute that has not progressed to resolution. Try them, it doesn't hurt to seek outside support, resources and tools to assist gaining insight, perspective and collaboratively discuss, determine and reach a desired end goal. read more

Excellent place to get training in different levels of Mediation. The staff is extreemly helpful and the instructor is very well qualified. Highly recommend to anyone thinking about learning more about the Mediation process or selecting this as new career path. read more

The Dispute Resolution Center offers different things to different people, which makes it difficult to review. I struggled with this as I found highs and lows. When I came to Austin, I was very focused on bringing mediation to my law practice. I have been a professional negotiator for most of my career and people depend on me to negotiate and to mediate difficult situations. I have negotiated some very complex and high-dollar transactions. When I tried to join some of the Associations here, however, or tried to get placed on lists of mediators, I was told I needed a 40 hour certification class. I was told that the DRC gave a great class, so I signed up. The class is expensive. About $1000 for a one-week class. It is very good, however. The two women who run it are EXCELLENT. They are engaging and work very hard to teach a good curriculum. They give you a very strict structure on how to conduct a mediation. The folks at the DRC who help with the class are good to a varying degree. Some are better than others. On the last day, they briefly covered issues on associations. They also encouraged everyone to sign up as a volunteer with the DRC. WIth my new certification, I then tried to get into the mediation organizations and join lists. I was told I needed x number of hours of recorded mediation experience ALONG with the class. Well, poop. I can't get their "official" experience without getting on a bloody list or getting into an association, can I? So I thought I'd try to volunteer with the DRC. I filled out a fairly lengthy application, with resume, and with TWO written letters of recommendation. Then I heard nothing. For months. I called. Repeatedly. Left messages. Got no response. I became a pest. Then I was told that the volunteer coordinator will look at applications next month, but not to get my hopes up because they only take very experienced people and they already have hundreds of volunteers. Gee. Thanks for letting me know before I spent time asking people to write letters of recommendation for me. I called again and was told that MAYBE, if they liked my application, I could sit in on a session. I was not given any encouragement. At all. I never did receive any response to my application. The DRC offers free mediation sessions to the public. I think that this is a terrific thing and a fantastic service to the public. I think that the class is great. If you are already working in a company that wants you to do mediations, you should ask them to send you to this training. I think as a resource to mediators -- not so helpful. I am pretty convinced that the vast majority of mediators in this town are pretty dead set against bringing anyone new into the fold. This organization is not supportive to people trying to get into the business or helping people other than people they already know. This is a real shame. read more

I've known many people who have been helped using the DRC. It definitely is the place to start before even considering going to court. Their trained mediators are great at facilitating communications and being fair to both sides ....Too many people are ready for a "fight" when some calm, focused conversation can often resolve the differences. read more

This organization is one of the best run non-profits in the state. I do market research and strategic planning for all kinds of businesses, but came to experience the services offered by the DRC when considering a civil law suit against a contracted service provider in the Central Texas area. Our case was referred to mediation and the other party wanted to use the DRC because he had previous successful experiences there. The mediation took place shortly after he called for an appointment. Both I and my lawyer were impressed with the professionalism of the staff, their clear mission of serving their community, and the expertise of the mediators. We were both satisfied with the outcome and somewhat surprised that we could avoid court costs by mediating. I found out from the Austin DRC that there were other DRC's throughout Texas and will consider calling them if I find myself needing mediation again. read more