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The Maryland Judiciary, like many other state court systems, establishes qualifications for persons to serve as court-approved mediators, often presenting challenges for mediators who received training outside of Maryland or from any training that failed to meet the content requirements provided in the Maryland Rules. Maryland Rules, Title 17, provide basic qualifications for court designated mediators, including a 40-hour basic mediation training with course content requirements.
Until now, no resources existed to provide supplemental training to support mediators who launch new practices in Maryland. Recognizing this unmet need, the Center for Dispute Resolution at Maryland Carey Law received funding from the Maryland Judiciary’s Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office (MACRO) to develop an online training to address this issue. This endeavor aligns with the Maryland Judiciary’s deep investment in building a robust and well-prepared mediation community.
According to Jenn Williams, program manager of the Maryland Program for Mediation Excellence, a mediator quality assistance initiative of MACRO, “we are thrilled to support the launch of Bringing Your Mediation Practice to Maryland: Ethics and Resources. This course is a valuable opportunity for mediators to get oriented to Maryland’s mediation landscape and brush up on essential knowledge.”
“Bringing your Mediation Practice to Maryland: Ethics and Resources” is a self-paced asynchronous course delivered online through the Legal Studies Department at Anne Arundel Community College (AACC). The training is geared toward individuals who received their basic mediation training in another state, for the mediator trained in Maryland who is returning to their practice of mediation after an extended break, and for any mediator interested in a quick refresher about the practice of mediation in Maryland.
Divided into four modules (totaling 3.5 hours), the training focuses on the Maryland court system, dispute resolution programs, mediation-related rules and statutes, Maryland standards of conduct for mediators, and mediation-related resources. Upon completion, students receive a certificate and mediator continuing education units.
Word is spreading about this opportunity; as of May 2025, about a dozen people had completed the course. Registration is available year-round through AACC’s monthly registration cycles for a modest fee.