Abraham Lincoln’s 25-year legal career dwarfed his four years as president. Many of the talents he exhibited as president—his strong sense of moral duty and a commitment to conciliation, whenever possible—were cultivated as a lawyer. Lincoln may not have known the term “ADR,” but he certainly understood and captured its essence. He had a deep and intuitive understanding that lawsuits can stir up the worst in people, pit neighbor against neighbor, divide families, and splinter whole communities. He discerned the advantages of a negotiated settlement. His legal career is replete with intriguing examples of creative dispute resolution.