What's Happening?
The Philadelphia Bar Association is offering a Basic Mediation Training program, with Day 2, focusing on 'The Process,' available as a live webcast. This comprehensive 3-day CLE (Continuing Legal Education) workshop is designed to prepare attorneys to become
mediators using the facilitative style of mediation. Participants will learn essential facilitation skills and techniques aimed at enhancing communication, conflict resolution, information gathering, perspective-taking, problem-solving, interest-based negotiating, and agreement writing. Day 2 specifically covers topics such as information gathering, active listening, asking questions, perspective taking, interests and positions, caucusing, problem-solving, overcoming impasse, agreement writing, and unauthorized practice of law. The training is presented by CORA Good Shepherd, with featured speakers including Sue Wasserkrug, Esq., Director of Mediation at CORA Services, Inc., and Cassandra Georges, Esq., from Above & Beyond Dispute Resolution. A Certificate of Completion will be provided by CORA Good Shepherd Mediation only to those who attend all three days of training.
Why It's Important?
This mediation training is crucial for the U.S. legal landscape, particularly in Philadelphia, as it equips attorneys with vital alternative dispute resolution (ADR) skills. The increasing complexity and cost of litigation make mediation an attractive and often more efficient alternative for resolving conflicts. By training more attorneys in facilitative mediation, the program contributes to a more accessible and less adversarial justice system. This benefits individuals and businesses by offering quicker, more cost-effective, and often more amicable solutions to disputes, reducing the burden on courts. Furthermore, the emphasis on skills like active listening and problem-solving can improve legal practice beyond mediation, fostering better client communication and negotiation strategies. The availability of a certificate for full attendance also incentivizes comprehensive learning, ensuring a higher standard of practice among newly trained mediators.
What's Next?
Attorneys interested in enhancing or updating their mediation skills can register for one or two days of the training, or commit to all three days to receive the Certificate of Completion. Login links and materials will be provided via email the evening prior to the program. The Philadelphia Bar Association's CLE Department is available for questions regarding registration, forms, or additional program information. The ongoing provision of such training indicates a continued commitment to professional development within the legal community and the promotion of ADR methods. Future iterations of this program or advanced mediation courses are likely, given the sustained demand for conflict resolution expertise.
Beyond the Headlines
The widespread adoption and professionalization of mediation, as exemplified by this training, signify a cultural shift within the legal profession towards more collaborative and client-centered approaches. Beyond its practical benefits in dispute resolution, mediation training fosters a deeper understanding of human conflict dynamics and communication. This can lead to a more empathetic and effective legal practice, moving beyond purely adversarial tactics. The skills learned, such as perspective-taking and interest-based negotiation, are not only valuable in legal contexts but also in broader societal interactions, promoting constructive dialogue and understanding. This initiative by the Philadelphia Bar Association underscores the evolving role of legal professionals as facilitators of resolution, rather than solely advocates in contention, contributing to a more harmonious society.
