Product Description

MCLE is pleased to present this four-day, thirty-hour workshop designed specifically for mediators with knowledge of basic divorce law.

Rule 8 of the Uniform Rules of Dispute Resolution provides system-wide standards for court-connected alternative dispute resolution services in Massachusetts. Rule 8’s guidelines establish training, evaluation, mentoring, and continuing education requirements for mediators, among others. Who needs Rule 8 training? Mediators, arbitrators, case evaluators, conciliators, neutrals for mini-trials and summary jury trials, and dispute intervenors. Without the training, you can’t be on the list.

What’s covered?

This workshop trains mediators in divorce, custody, adoption, visitation, paternity, and other family law litigation. It enables you to serve as a family law mediator in compliance with state requirements.

Special focus

The emphasis is on interactive participation and “learning by doing.” The training blends theory and practice to enhance the performance of trainees. A variety of learning techniques are sensitive to individual learning styles. Lecture and role-play sessions cover basic considerations in the types of disputes addressed by mediation.

Agenda & Materials

• Day 1: Monday, July 8th
• 8:30 am - 9:00 am

  Welcome and Introduction

  Hon. Edward M. Ginsburg,
  
• 9:00 am - 9:30 am

  Introduction of Faculty, Seminar & Class

  Israela Adah Brill-Cass, Esq., fixerrr.com , Boston
  John A. Fiske, Esq., HealyFiske LLP , Cambridge
  Justin L. Kelsey, Esq., Skylark Law & Mediation, PC , Southborough
  
• 9:30 am - 10:00 am

  Introduction to Mediation

  • What is Mediation?
  • Principles of Mediation
  • Recognizing Forms or “Styles” of Mediation
• 10:00 am - 10:30 am

  Listening: The Basic Skill (Exercise)
• 10:30 am - 10:45 am

  Networking and Refreshment Break
• 10:45 am - 12:00 pm

  Introduction to Four Basic Skills

  • Connect with each client
  • Non-verbal behavior
  • Impartial behavior (neutrality)
  • Open-ended questions
• Asking Open-Ended Questions: The Basic Skill (Exercise)
• Demonstration Role Play: What Should Mediation Look Like?
• 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

  Lunch (on your own)
• 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

  Role Play in Small Groups

  Report directly to assigned break-out room.
• 2:30 pm - 3:00 pm

  Group De-Brief

  • What did you learn from the role play?
  • What questions do you have?
  • What went well and what did you do?
• 3:00 pm - 3:15 pm

  Networking and Refreshment Break
• 3:15 pm - 3:45 pm

  Reframing: The Art of Saying What No One Wants to Hear
• Brief Video and Exercise
• 3:45 pm - 5:00 pm

  Fishbowl role plays with class participation, Debrief, Questions
• Day 2: Tuesday, July 9th

  Mediation with Children’s Issues
• 8:30 am - 9:00 am

  Introduction

  • Review Day’s Agenda
  • Children as Fulcrum
    • Custody/Parenting Schedules
    • Child Support

  Julie E. Ginsburg, Esq., , West Newton
  Michael L. Leshin, Esq., Goldman & Sidgwick, LLP , South Natick
  
• 9:00 am - 10:00 am

  Psychological Aspects of Divorce (Lecture & Questions)

  ,
  
• Comments

  Julie E. Ginsburg, Esq., , West Newton
  Alexander D. Jones, Esq., Brick, Jones, McBrien & Hickey LLP , Needham
  Michael L. Leshin, Esq., Goldman & Sidgwick, LLP , South Natick
  
• 10:00 am - 10:15 am

  Networking and Refreshment Break
• 10:15 am - 10:30 am

  Role Play and Discussion
• 10:30 am - 12:00 pm

  Role Plays in Break-out Groups
• 12:00 pm - 12:30 pm

  Debrief Morning Role Play—Groups Reconvene

  • Scheduling conundrums which arise in mediation of a parenting plan
  • Wrap-up
• 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm

  Lunch (on your own)
• 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm

  Common Child Support Issues in Mediation of Children’s Issues

  • Discussion
  • Role Play Demonstration
• 2:30 pm - 2:45 pm

  Networking and Refreshment Break
• 2:45 pm - 4:15 pm

  Afternoon Role Plays in Break-out Groups
• 4:15 pm - 5:00 pm

  Debrief Role Plays- Groups Reconvene

  • Scheduling conundrums which arise in mediation of a parenting plan
  • Wrap up
• Day 3: Wednesday, July 10th
• 8:30 am - 8:35 am

  Introduction

  Hon. Edward M. Ginsburg,
  Kate Fanger, Esq., Kate Fanger Mediation , Belmont
  David A. Hoffman, Esq., Boston Law Collaborative LLC , Boston
  Michele A. Keratsis, Esq., Boston Law Collaborative LLC , Boston
  Katherine Triantafillou, Esq., Squillace & Associates, PC , Boston
  Ellen R. Waldorf, Esq., eWaldorf Mediation , Newton Upper Falls
  
• 8:35 pm - 9:15 pm

  How Can You Say That? The Mediator’s Toolbox
• 9:15 am - 10:00 am

  The Use of Caucusing in Mediation
• 10:00 am - 10:15 am

  Networking and Refreshment Break
• 10:15 am - 12:15 pm

  Role Play- Small Groups
• 12:15 pm - 12:30 pm

  Debrief Morning Role Play
• 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm

  Lunch (on your own)
• 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm

  Legal and Ethical Issues in Mediation
• 3:00 pm - 3:15 pm

  Networking and Refreshment Break
• 3:15 pm - 4:00 pm

  Psychological Issues in Family Mediation
• 4:00 pm - 4:50 pm

  Diversity, Gender, and Cultural Issues in Mediation
• 4:50 pm - 5:00 pm

  Review and Questions
• Day 4: Thursday, July 11th
• 8:30 am - 8:45 am

  Welcome and Introduction

  Hon. Edward M. Ginsburg,
  
• 8:45 pm - 10:00 am

  Agreement Writing: Purposes, Pitfalls, Good Practice

  Be clear and concise; state the intentions of the parties understandably and enforceably

  Hon. Mary Anne Sahagian, Massachusetts Probate and Family Court (Ret.) , Dunstable
  
• 10:00 am - 10:15 am

  Networking and Refreshment Break
• 10:15 am - 12:30 pm

  Screening for Appropriateness of Mediation and Role Play

  How the principles of mediation inform your decisions about what is appropriate and what is a challenge; when and how to terminate; how intake can prevent problems in mediation

  Justin L. Kelsey, Esq., Skylark Law & Mediation, PC , Southborough
  
• Fishbowl Exercise
• 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm

  Lunch (provided) and Guest Speakers

  Who Are You Now? The Thirty Hours that Changed Your Life

  Hon. John D. Casey, Probate and Family Court, Commonwealth of Massachusetts , Boston
  Timothy M. Linnehan, Esq., Trial Court, Executive Office, Commonwealth of Massachusetts , Boston
  
• 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm

  Nuts and Bolts & Building Your Practice

  Justin L. Kelsey, Esq., Skylark Law & Mediation, PC , Southborough
  
• 2:30 pm - 3:15 pm

  Listening Deeply to Your Client

  David A. Kellem, Esq., David Kellem Law Group, PC , Hingham
  
• 3:15 pm - 3:30 pm

  Post Training Resources

  John A. Fiske, Esq., HealyFiske LLP , Cambridge
  
• 3:30 pm - 4:00 pm

  Debrief & Questions
• 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

  Reception

Please Note

MCLE webcasts are delivered completely online, underscoring their convenience and appeal. There are no published print materials. All written materials are available electronically only. They are posted 24 hours prior to the program and can be accessed, downloaded, or printed from your computer.

Chair

Faculty