Fundamentals of Mediation

The UC Law San Francisco Center for Negotiation and Dispute Resolution (CNDR) presents its' annual 40-hour mediation training program. 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 UC Law SF LL.M. students. No prior training or experience required. Participants receive a certificate of completion and optional MCLE credit.

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.

What participants have to say:

“Fantastic! So happy I chose this program, it blew away my expectations. The role playing was especially valuable to measure progress and enforce the teaching.” – BT 2022

"I quit my job as a teacher to work in the Office of Civil Rights doing in-house dispute resolution and mediation. I could not have gotten this position without taking CNDR’s Fundamentals of Mediation Training, and I am so grateful for all of the skills I gained. I re-read Prof. Ford’s Peace at Work and feel even more prepared to take on this next challenge." – BL, 2024

This training program is planned as a live in-person event on the UC Law SF campus in San Francisco. 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. (Not a virtual course)

Class Dates (40 hours of training plus breaks in-person): Monday, August 31 -Friday, September 4, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. each day

UC Law San Francisco, 198 McAllister, San Francisco, CA 94102

40 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.

• Standard Registration Fee – $2,295
• Alumni, Government, and Nonprofit Rate – $2,095

Sales end one week prior to the training or when the training fills to capacity, whichever comes first. Space is limited so register early. Questions to [email protected].

John Ford, BA LLB (UCT) is an experienced workplace mediator and soft-skills trainer. John studied law at the University of Cape Town before moving to Namibia, where he practiced from 1988 to 1995. Initially, he focused on representing survivors of human-rights abuses. After Namibian independence in 1990, his focus shifted to labor and employment law. John moved to California in 1996 and trained as a mediator. He has since successfully mediated hundreds of workplace disputes, and has worked with numerous teams to help them deal successfully with conflict.

John has provided training to thousands of employees at all levels in the workplace, across a wide range of industries. His workshops focus on the development of soft skills, such as communication, negotiation, facilitation, conflict resolution, emotional intelligence, customer service and mediation. John teaches negotiation at UC Law San Francisco and organizational collaboration online through Creighton University. He taught Organizational Conflict Management through JFK University and mediation to graduate Business and Psychology students at Golden Gate University.

He is a past president of the Association for Dispute Resolution of Northern California (ADRNC), and was the managing editor of www.mediate.com from 2000 to 2010. Currently, he is a member of the Association for Conflict Resolution and the ADRNC and the Society for Human Resource Managers (SHRM).

Cancellation Policy

For all CNDR events, cancellations on or before 30 days prior to the event will receive a full refund, minus an administrative fee of 7% of ticket price. 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

UC Law San Francisco 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 [email protected], or the Disability Access Hotline at 415-581-4848 or [email protected] at least two weeks before the event.

Use of Materials Notice

The UC Law SF Center for Negotiation and Dispute Resolution (CNDR) hereby irrevocably grants registrants/participants a limited, nonexclusive, non-transferable, royalty-free right and license to use materials provided and distributed by CNDR and/or UC Law SF in the course of the training herein for purposes of participation and personal/internal, non-commercial reference purposes.

Code of Conduct

The UC Law SF Center for Negotiation and Dispute Resolution (CNDR) is dedicated to ensuring that its events and gatherings are an inclusive, respectful, productive, and harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, alienage or citizenship status, physical or mental ability, color, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, national origin, marital status or partnership status, pregnancy or lactation status, religion or creed, status as a veteran or active military service member or any other basis protected by U.S. federal, state, or local laws.

When participating in or attending a CNDR event, the following behaviors are expected:

• Be present, timely, open-minded, and participate actively.
• Act with respect and dignity towards everyone you encounter, including participants, staff, instructors, and coaches.
• Be considerate and collegial in your speech and actions, valuing a diversity of views and opinions.
• To support a participatory learning environment for everyone, be mindful of how much time you use (e.g. in discussions or Q&A sessions).
• Behave in accordance with professional standards (such as your employer’s policies, or applicable law).
• Alert on-premises security personnel and staff if you notice a dangerous situation or someone clearly in distress, or call 911 in case of an emergency.

Harassment, bullying, non-consensual physical contact, threats, microaggressions, intimidation, and/or insinuations that are hurtful or interfere with any other attendee’s experience or participation are examples of behaviors which are unacceptable and could be cause for removal from a CNDR event.

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