Dispute Resolution Training for Practitioners & Judges

Superior education and cutting-edge training.

The Center for Negotiation and Dispute Resolution (CNDR) offers a variety of mediation and dispute resolution programs to the public, ADR professionals, judges, attorneys, and court administrators. We collaborate on projects with local trainers, non-profits, commercial ADR providers, and government agencies. CNDR also offers customized training to suit your needs – we have you covered from basic certification to advanced ADR topics.

Find the UC Hastings Master Calendar of events here.

Mastering the Fundamentals of Mediation Certificate

Hosted at Hastings annually, this 40-hour comprehensive mediation certification training provides a unique blend of mediation theory, hands-on mediation skills training, and an exploration of the sensibilities and personal qualities required to be an effective mediator. This highly interactive and dynamic course is useful for any attorney who represents clients in mediation to understand the process and to be more effective in representing clients in mediation. No prior training or experience required. More information here.

Instructor: Jessica Notini

Dates: June 3 and 5-8-9-10, 2020

Download the Flyer

Advanced Practitioner Mediation Certificate Training Series

On the UC Hastings campus, CNDR offers high-quality dispute resolution courses on in-depth topics for practitioners. Sessions in this series assume completion of a basic mediation course (Fundamentals of Mediation offered by CNDR in summer), but it is not required to participate.

In this 7-part series, sessions are held three times annually in February, May, and September, and range from 2 – 4 hours each. Sessions begin May 20, 2020, and continue through 2022. Certification available for individuals completing 8 hours of series training annually.

See individual registration pages for more details and pricing. Download information here.

Key components for sessions include:

Individual and small group interaction components
Q&A
Role play demonstrations
Practice sessions with experienced coaches
Discussions of real-life case studies
Individual feedback

A styles assessment designed to help participants identify their natural strengths as well as opportunities for growth as an effective mediator. This reflective session will focus on the mediator’s role, and differing models and methods of mediation as a basis for building more advanced skills.

Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Time: 10:00am – 3:00pm (includes 1-hour catered lunch break)

Mediators are the custodians of the communication flow. They need to pay close attention to communication, both their own communication skills and the communication dynamics of the participants. Most mediators consider empathic listening to be their core skill. In addition, the advanced listening skill of reframing is vital. Mediators also need to ask a lot of questions, not to satisfy their curiosity but to support the conflict-resolution process. And when they need to assert themselves or be persuasive, mediators are tactful communicators. This course focuses on the key communication skills that support the mediation process, reviewing skills is reviewed from the perspective of the mediator.

Date: September 16, 2020

Time: 10:00am – 3:00pm (includes 1-hour catered lunch break)

Human emotion plays an important role in how participants make decisions in mediation, so this session will provide a basis for understanding the neuroscience behind emotion, as well as provide tools for how to manage emotions for participants, attorneys, and the mediators themselves. A 4-hour session.

Date: February 2021(exact date TBA)

Time: 10:00am – 3:00pm (includes 1-hour lunch break)

Registration coming soon.

Building on the previous advanced training sessions, this double session focuses on providing participants with advanced and complex negotiation skills and tools to take their mediations to the next level, and create long-lasting, satisfactory resolutions for participants. 8 hours total. Topics preview:

Early, mid, and final stage negotiation strategies and challenges
Types of complex negotiations
Different mediation models for challenging cases
Negotiation styles and strategizing
Shuttle diplomacy and confidentiality
Challenging participants and attorneys
Advanced Tools, Techniques and Tips for Successfully Overcoming Impasse

Dates: May 2022, and September 2022

Time: 10:00am – 3:00pm (1-hour lunch break included)

Registration coming soon.

International Court ADR Institute

CNDR’s own International Court ADR Institute: Envisioning, Designing and Implementing Court ADR: A Practical and Theoretical Program welcomes participants from around the world. Offered since 2011, this certificate four-day intensive training program, open to non-U.S. judges, attorneys and court administrators, will prepare participants to design and implement court ADR programs in their respective countries.

Dates: August 31 – September 3, 2020

More Info

International Court ADR Institute FAQ

Participants will learn how to lay the groundwork for a successful court-based ADR program by working with local stakeholders; how to assess community needs, choose ADR processes suited to those needs and develop the chosen program design; how to screen and select cases appropriate for ADR; and how to implement, evaluate and modify a program once it is underway.

Participants will also learn how to select and train neutrals to work in their programs, including the personal qualities and skill sets required for the various processes, and how to deal with ethical problems and confidentiality issues.

In addition to group sessions, one-on-one consultation with the lead trainers will allow each participant to explore issues specific to his or her own country’s legal system and needs; and a 3- to 6-month follow-up by email will allow the providers both to measure the effectiveness of the training and to offer additional assistance after the participants return to their home countries.

The program is designed and taught primarily by Claudia Bernard ’86 (right), Chief Circuit Mediator for the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; Howard Herman ’83 (middle), Director of ADR Programs for the United States District Court for the Northern District of California; and Sheila Purcell ’86 (left), Director of the Center for Negotiation and Dispute Resolution at UC Hastings, and former ADR Director for the Superior Court for the County of San Mateo, California. The three instructors are among the most experienced court ADR program administrators in the United States, as well as being gifted and experienced teachers in the ADR field, both in the United States and around the world.

Armenia Macao

Austria Malaysia

Bangladesh Mexico

Bhutan Mozambique

Brazil Nigeria

Bulgaria Pakistan

Cameroon Philippines

Canada Poland

Chile Russia

China Rwanda

Cyprus Serbia

Egypt Singapore

Estonia South Africa

Georgia Spain

Greece Taiwan

India Turkey

Israel Uganda

Italy Uzbekistan

Japan Vietnam

Kyrgyzstan Republic Zambia

Lebanon

Select Past CNDR Trainings

Mastering the Fundamentals, Basic Mediation Certification
Mediation for HR Professionals
International Court ADR Institute: Envisioning, Designing, and Implementing Court ADR: A Practical and Theoretical Program
International Cross Border Family Mediation
Spanish Mediation
Advanced Mediation Training
Effective Negotiation
Mastering the Difficult Negotiation
Practice of Conflict Coaching
Stealth Facilitation
Leadership Academy

Customized Training

CNDR can work with you to design a specialized training that meets the needs of your organization or team, or any of our other training offerings can be provided privately and customized to your group.

Contact CNDR About Your Training Needs

Upcoming CNDR Events

May 20

Practitioner Mediation Training Series: How to Assume the Neutral’s Role

The Center for Negotiation and Dispute Resolution (CNDR) at UC Hastings Law presents its Practitioner Mediation Certificate Training Series: On the UC Hastings campus, CNDR…

200 McAllister Street

10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Jun 03

Mastering the Fundamentals of Mediation

The Center for Negotiation and Dispute Resolution (CNDR) presents its annual 40-hour comprehensive mediation certification training. This course provides a unique blend of mediation theory,…

200 McAllister Street

Sep 16

Practitioner Mediation Certificate Training Series: Increasing Effective Communication

The Center for Negotiation and Dispute Resolution (CNDR) at UC Hastings Law presents its Practitioner Mediation Certificate Training Series: On the UC Hastings campus, CNDR…

200 McAllister Street

10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Cancellation Policy

For all CNDR events, cancellations on or before 30 days prior to the event will receive a full refund, minus a $50 administrative fee. Cancellations after 30 days prior to the event will receive a 50% refund. Cancellations on or after 5 days prior to the event will not receive a refund.

ADA Accommodations Statement

The University of California, Hastings College of the Law is committed to making its facilities and events accessible in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you need reasonable accommodations, please contact CNDR at 415-581-8941 or CNDR@uchastings.edu, or the Disability Access Hotline at 415-581-4848 or DAH@uchastings.edu at least two weeks before the event.