�鶹��Ƶ Law SF Partners with the JAMS Foundation to Present Unique Training Program for Mediation Reformers Around the World - �鶹��Ƶ Law San Francisco (Formerly �鶹��Ƶ Hastings)

From September 9-13, 2024, Professor Hiro Aragaki led a five-day training at �鶹��Ƶ Law San Francisco (formerly �鶹��Ƶ Hastings) entitled, Promoting Mediation through Private and Court-Connected Mediation Centers: Lessons from the U.S. and other Leading Mediation Jurisdictions. The training was co-hosted by the , in collaboration with and attracted a prestigious group of judges, lawyers, and mediators.

Continuing a long tradition of hosting and educating international visitors at CNDR, the training focused on how to cultivate a robust mediation ecosystem in participants’ home countries through the establishment of effective public and private mediation centers. Faculty shared best practices and lessons learned from decades of mediation reform experience, and included top-level experts from court annexed mediation programs in California, New York, Maryland, and Washington D.C.; private ADR institutions in the U.S. and Europe; the World Bank; and universities in the U.S. and Singapore.

Participants hailed from countries across six continents: Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Thailand, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, and Zambia. They were joined by the Chief Justice of the Rwandan Supreme Court, a current Judge of the Zambian Constitutional Court, leadership from the in Rome, and distinguished mediators from Cyprus, Ecuador, Georgia, Japan, and Singapore. Several participants were selected from the prestigious .

Among other things, participants learned about:

Dispute systems design principles;
How to design and set goals for a successful private and court-annexed mediation center;
Pros and cons of mandatory versus voluntary mediation referral systems;
How to select, manage, and support a panel of mediators;
Considerations for data collection and ongoing evaluation;
Singapore’s dispute resolution ecosystem as a case study;
Civil versus common law approaches to mediation reform; and
How to change mindsets and grow a private market for mediation services.

Participants also visited the Mediation Office of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the ADR Program of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, where they also had the opportunity to learn from and interact with Magistrate Judges who routinely mediate and help settle civil cases.

Registration for the 2025 training, now dubbed the “International Mediation Development & Leadership Institute,” is now open.

Testimonials:

“The training was beyond my expectations, excellent organization, with thoughtful and thought-provoking sessions.”—Judge Zainab Alami, The Gambia
“Excellent opportunity to meet and exchange with highest level professionals!” —Giorgi Tsertsvadze, Georgia
“The topics on mediation ecosystems, culture, civil/common law approaches provided a wealth of intellectual content and well as practical content.”—Anonymous
“I have come away with a broader perspective of my goals and how they fit into the larger ecosystem and legal landscape. I have also begun to see mediation in a different light.”—Anonymous
“The training program successfully fostered a safe and supportive environment for open exchange and sharing knowledge. Design of the process was very impactful.”—Yuna Potomkina, Ukraine
“Having the opportunity to spend time with such skilled mediators-practitioners was a privilege that left a lasting impact.”—Anonymous
“Excellent course structure and organization with world-class speakers!”—Albertus Primadi, Indonesia
“It was interactive, I have learned a lot, I’m grateful for all the incredible speakers who provided us with valuable insights. I really enjoyed the [visit to the courts] as well.”—Anonymous
“[This course] was very well designed, the speakers were very experienced and the format was inclusive.”—Lofti El Ajeri, Tunisia
“It addressed current practical problems and offered new insights for me to [try].”—Justice Sam Rugege, Rwanda
“Amazing opportunity to enlarge horizon and get in touch with ADR practitioners and academics worldwide.”—Henriette Sigmund, Germany