Mediation: Theory and Practice

This course will focus primarily on the mediation process, beginning with an understanding of conflict, its potential for empowerment and recognition in addition to resolution, and fostering a mediator’s self-awareness. Thereafter, the focus will be on the mediator’s orientation and hands-on conflict intervention skills for the mediator as well as collaborative lawyering skills for the attorney representing a client in mediation. Students will engage in simulations designed to foster communication skills and conflict transformation. Ethical and legal implications, and state and national standards of practice for mediators, will also be discussed. Upon successful completion of this course, students will receive a certificate noting 40 hours of mediation training, which may be used for application for the roster of state mediators for the courts.