The Mediation Center in Columbia, Maryland provides alternative ways to resolve family and business disputes for Baltimore area clients. The Maryland Court of Appeals enacted Title 17 of the Maryland Rules of Procedure that addresses ADR in circuit courts. This Act applies after the enactment of concurrent legislation by the State of Maryland and the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the approval of the United States Congress. Anyone can volunteer to be a mediator, but court rosters require experience and training.
A New York District Administrative Judge can compile lists in his judicial district of neutral individuals who are eligible to receive referrals from the court. Generally, mediators must have a combination of training and experience to be appointed to a judicial list. This usually includes at least 40 hours of approved training, although individual jurisdictions may impose additional requirements. In South Carolina, mediators must be admitted to practice law and be accredited members of the South Carolina Bar Association, or be authorized to practice law in the highest court in another state.
The South Carolina Bar Association houses the Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission and the Supreme Court's Board of Arbitrators and Certification of Mediators, and helps the Court maintain and distribute the official list of active certified mediators and arbitrators. In Wisconsin, mediators who wish to receive judicial referrals for child custody and domestic disputes must have at least 25 hours of mediation training (or three years of mediation experience) and three hours of training on domestic violence issues. In Louisiana, for example, a person must have a license to practice law in the state or have mediated at least 25 disputes or participated in more than 500 hours of dispute resolution. In Virginia, you can practice mediation privately without being certified, but you must receive a judicial certification to receive cases referred by the court.
Title 17 of the Maryland Rules of Procedure requires the mediator and all participating parties to keep all communications confidential during mediation. It is recommended that all mediators meet the requirements set by the Maryland Program for Mediator Excellence (MPME) through the Maryland Office of Judicial Mediation and Dispute Resolution (MACRO). These requirements include having a bachelor's degree or higher degree, at least five years of managerial or administrative experience in a professional, business or government entity, and experience as a mediator in at least 10 mediations. Experience requirements vary by state, but most include a minimum number of mediations conducted independently or under the supervision of a mediator or mentor.
Private mediators don't need a license, but there are requirements for mediators who want to be on an approved list. All MCRC mediators are expected to maintain their membership in MPME and attend continuing education throughout the year. Mediators interested in providing services in North Carolina courts are encouraged to contact the Dispute Resolution Commission for the specific requirements of each judicial mediation list. The Administrative Office of the Courts provides model standards for mediator qualifications to help higher courts develop their own standards (formally known as the Model Qualification Standards for Mediators in Court-related Mediation Programs for General Civil Cases).Rule 17-103 (c) (allows either party to raise objections to the appointed mediator and propose an alternate mediator). Have a bachelor's degree or higher degree, at least five years of managerial or administrative experience in a professional, business or government entity, and experience as a mediator in at least 10 mediations.
