Northern Illinois University
College of Law

Michael Zuckerman is a visiting practitioner in Residence at NIU College of Law. He teaches upper-level courses in alternative dispute resolution (ADR), mediation and arbitration. In private practice, Professor Zuckerman is a neutral at JAMS, the world’s largest private provider of dispute resolution services.

Professor Zuckerman has mediated and arbitrated hundreds of matters and brings his practical experience to the classroom. In his prior legal practice, Professor Zuckerman was a litigator at a global law firm. He previously clerked for federal judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

Areas of Expertise

• Alternative dispute resolution (ADR)
• Mediation
• Arbitration
• Negotiation

Selected Publications and Speaking Engagements

• Panelist, Confidentiality and Attorney/Client Privilege Issues in Mediation, Chicago Bar Association, 2025
• Panelist, Client Issues in Mediation: Preparation and Control, Chicago Bar Association, 2025
• Panelist, Managing the Mediation, Chicago Bar Association, 2025
• Moderator, Appellate Mediation: Discussion with the Bench and Bar, American Bar Association, 2025
• Speaker, The Ethics and Practicalities of Mediation With Pro Se Litigants, Association and Attorney-Mediators, Illinois Chapter, 2025
• Presenter, Pre-Mediation Planning, Illinois State Bar Association, 2024
• Speaker, Dispute Resolution Contract Clause Building Workshop, LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Illinois and American Arbitration Association, 2024
• Coach, Mediation Skills Training, Northwestern School of Professional Studies, 2024
• Speaker, Sharpening Skills & Doing Good: Volunteer Mediation, Association for Conflict Resolution, 2023
• Moderator, Judicial Panel: Best Practices for Settlement Conferences, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois / Settlement Assistance Program, 2023
• Speaker, Top Insights from Analyzing AI Tools in Legal Writing, ABA TechShow, 2022
• Speaker, Best Practices for Expert Reports, Scientific Association of Forensic Examiners, 2021
• Panelist, Federal Practice and Discovery Disputes, Chicago Bar Association, 2018
• Contributing Editor, Federal Employment Litigation, The Rutter Group Practice Guide, 2017–2018
• Co-author, “More from the #Jury Box: The Latest on Juries and Social Media,” 12 Duke L. & Tech. Rev. 64, 2014
• Co-author, “The Forgotten Pleading,” 7 Fed. Cts. L. Rev. 152, 2013
• Co-author, “Ensuring an Impartial Jury in the Age of Social Media,” 11 Duke L. & Tech. Rev. 1, 2012