This is a SPRING semester clinic with a fall semester seminar pre-requisite.

The clinic provides students with intensive experience as a mediator in civil, non-family cases. Students serve in the role of neutral mediator in real legal disputes, including civil small claims cases in Baltimore City District Court and employment and housing discrimination cases referred from the Baltimore City Office of Equity and Civil Rights. Students receive training in conflict resolution and communication skills and complete an apprentice process before sitting in the mediator’s chair. Students first observe faculty mediate two cases (which may occur during the Fall seminar), then co-mediate two cases with faculty, and then advance to full practicing mediator status, co-mediating with peers under faculty supervision. Students receive feedback after each mediation they conduct. Students submit weekly reflection journals and are responsible for managing a docket of pre-trial mediation cases. Students will be evaluated based on a combination of demonstrated educational responsibility, time and case management, professionalism, and self-reflection and progress.

The Mediation Clinic puts students in the role of practicing neutral mediators. The four credits require students to dedicate approximately 12-15 hours per week, which includes preparing and engaging actively in the weekly class seminar, managing a docket of pre-trial mediation cases, and mediating cases at court and in the clinical law office (at various dates/times convenient for the parties).

To allow for both weekly class and mediation coverage, students will need to be available on Tuesday and Friday afternoons.

Although there are set times set aside for class and some mediations, students will need to have availability to schedule and conduct mediations and project work at other times throughout the week.

Students in the Mediation Clinic will be required to:
• Complete supplemental training and practice at the beginning of the spring semester;
• Attend weekly clinical class seminar and team meeting;
• Staff the afternoon mediation docket at the District Court for Baltimore City on Tuesday or Friday afternoons (from 12:30-4:30 pm);
• Co-mediate complaints referred by the Baltimore City Office of Equity and Civil Rights;
• Schedule and conduct mediations referred by the ADR Program of the District Court for Baltimore City and other community referral sources; and
• Engage in a semester-long project associated with mediation (peer mediation in schools, consumer education, mediation-related legislation).

All students enrolled in spring clinic will be required to attend in-person clinic orientation on Friday, January 5, 2024, in addition to any clinic-specific orientation that the professor may schedule.

P: In the Fall: Enroll in the Mediation Theory and Practice Seminar (3 credits). Students that are on the admit list for spring Mediation Clinic will be automatically enrolled The fall Mediation Theory and Practice Seminar. The fall Mediation Theory and Practice Seminar will meet on Tuesday (1:05-2:00) and Thursday (1:05-3:05). Please confirm class times in the course catalog. Students should contact Professor Toby Guerin at tguerin@law.umaryland.edu with any questions.