Mastering the Fundamentals of Mediation

A 40-hour basic mediation training program, including certificate of completion and optional MCLE credit.

The UC Law SF Center for Negotiation and Dispute Resolution (CNDR) presents its’ annual 40-hour comprehensive mediation practitioner training. This program 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 program is useful for a range of professionals who deal with people in conflict, and any attorney who represents clients in mediation, to understand the process and to be more effective in representing clients in mediation. We also encourage participation of international attorneys, notaries and Hastings LL.M. students. No prior training or experience required.

In this highly interactive and dynamic training, participants from around the world learn the theory and practice of mediation. The methodology consists of a mixture of discussion, skill building exercises and role play. All participants will have the opportunity to practice multiple times in the client, advocate and mediator roles and will receive personalized feedback and coaching from professional mediators.

We start with the psychology and behavior of people in conflict and the different process choices parties can make when seeking to resolve conflict. We examine the different styles or models of mediation and the implications of those models for the client experience. We then explore and practice every phase of a mediation, from opening and setting the stage, to exploration of interests and issues, negotiating agreements, preparation of settlement documents and closure.

Combined with the practice of these phases, participants build critical communication and process management skills including how to:

• Maintain neutrality
• Balance power
• Select appropriate influencing strategies
• Decide whether, when and how to use private sessions (“caucus”)
• Facilitate the “money dance”
• Conduct a methodical alternatives analysis
• Employ techniques for overcoming impasse
• Convey “difficult” messages
• Use active listening
• Ask questions to move the clients in helpful directions
• Handle difficult behavior and “reframe” problematic statements

Finally, we cover mediator ethics, process confidentiality, working with representatives and co-mediation.

Format

This summer’s class is planned as an in-person event on the UC Law SF campus in San Francisco, pending any health orders or necessary changes to protect the health and safety of participants. All 40 hours will take place in-person during a live class, including small group breakout role plays with individualized coaching. Each day includes 1.5 hours of total breaks.

Dates

Program Dates (40 hours of training plus breaks): June 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7, 2022, from 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. each day

Location

UC Law SF, 200 McAllister, San Francisco, CA 94102

MCLE

California MCLE credits available, including 1.5 hrs Elimination of Bias and 2 hrs Legal Ethics. Be sure to select the “add on” for MCLE credit at checkout. MCLE Provider #9545.

Registration

Register Here

• Standard Registration Fee – $1,600
• Early Bird Registration (ends May 2, 2022) – $1,400
• Alumni, Government, and Nonprofit Rate – $1,400

Sales end one week prior to the training. Questions to CNDR@uchastings.edu.

Instructor

Jessica Notini is a full-time mediator, trainer, negotiation coach and facilitator practicing in California and internationally. As a trainer, she has developed and led many workshops for both private entities and public institutions in the areas of leadership & influencing, teambuilding, communication skills, negotiation, mediation, and conflict resolution. She has adapted these courses to the needs of a wide variety of professionals including project managers, division leaders, human resources personnel, judges, attorneys and administrators.

Ms. Notini is an Adjunct Professor teaching negotiation, mediation and alternative dispute resolution to both law and business students at Stanford Law School, Boalt School of Law, Hastings College of the Law, University of San Francisco Law School, SFSU Executive Business Management Program and Mills College MBA Program. A fluent Spanish speaker, she has also provided negotiation and mediation training in Spain, Peru, Ecuador and Mexico, she has served as a consultant to the Congress of Peru regarding the development of mediation legislation, and has presented as a keynote speaker in a variety of conferences and congresses.

As a facilitator, Ms. Notini assists public and private entities seeking to organize work on complex and controversial projects, develop clear missions, resolve budgetary issues and improve teamwork. In her mediation practice, Ms. Notini focuses primarily on the areas of probate & estate, employment discrimination and business disputes. She is a member of numerous court, national, governmental and community Alternative Dispute Resolution panels.

Ms. Notini is a leader in the field of alternative dispute resolution in California. She served for three years as President of the Association for Dispute Resolution of Northern California (formerly NCMA) and served on the Board of Directors for the Mediation Society of San Francisco. She is past Chair of the California State Bar Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee and belongs to a number of bar associations and other local and national professional organizations. Prior to her work in alternative dispute resolution, Ms. Notini practiced environmental law. She received her J.D. in 1989 from the University of Michigan where she graduated magna cum laude and was awarded the Order of the Coif.