Mark Bennett

UNM Mediation Training

Frequently Asked Questions

Who takes the training?

All of the trainings have a mix of law students and people from many different professional backgrounds. Anyone who is interested in mediation is welcome. In the past, educators, social workers, psychiatrists, psychologists, doctors and nurses, realtors, human resources professionals, small business owners and managers have benefited from this training. Usually about one half of the participants have a legal background.

How do I know if this is the right training for me?

UNM Alternative Dispute Resolution Trainings emphasize interpersonal communication skills in a problem solving context. We do not teach the specific techniques of settlement facilitation in adversary litigation, although mediation skills are an important aid in that process.

What about continuing education credit?

For legal professionals, the trainings qualify for MCLE credits, including ethics credits. The workshop fee includes the registration cost for MCLE credits and UNM will register these credits for you (if you wish to register for more than the provided credits, you are responsible for paying the additional fee of $1 per credit hour. Not all courses have additional hours available). For other professions, contact your continuing education office and check to confirm CEU availability. Other professionals have obtained CEUs for this course in the past, but please, check with your individual licensing board to be sure if that is a concern for you in taking this course.

What does it cost?

The course fee varies with the training and is payable on or before the start of the training. To hold a place in the training, we must have a deposit. Please see the individual program listings for the cost of each. We accept checks and cash. Please contact us for information on other forms of payment. We are unable to accept credit cards at this time.

What about refunds?

If you cancel more than two weeks before the training, we will refund your deposit minus a processing fee of $50. If you cancel less than two weeks before the training we reserve the right to retain your tuition fee if we cannot fill your slot with another paid participant. If we can find someone to fill your slot, we will refund your tuition minus the $50 processing fee; if not, we will retain your fee. If you are unable to complete the training due to illness or family emergency we do not make partial refunds, but we will work with you on the possibility of attending a subsequent training at no charge, subject to available space.

What kind of materials will I receive?

We provide detailed materials including a workbook, The Art of Mediation describing the stages of mediation, mediation skills and ethical standards; forms for mediation practice, information on networking, building a practice, professional associations and a bibliography.

What certification will I receive?

You will receive a certificate from the University of New Mexico School of Law confirming that you have completed the training in mediation skills.

What do I need to bring?

A pad and pen for notes. A mug for coffee/tea so we can reduce use of disposable styrofoam cups. Dress informally, comfortably, and flexibly. The heating and cooling system is unpredictable, so be prepared to add/subtract clothing for personal comfort. We provide light snacks, fruit, coffee and tea. You may want to bring your own lunches and/or food to nibble on during the training. The days are long and you need a high level of energy. Vending machines for soda and snacks are also available.

Are there any scholarships available?

In the past we have been able to make modest, partial scholarships available to one or two people in the amount of $100 to $200 each. If you are interested in a scholarship:

  • Write a short letter to Gloria Ortiz, ADR Training Coordinator, UNM Law School, MSC11 6070, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001. Explain your financial situation and your need for a scholarship. Also state your plans for using the skills you gain from the mediation training.
  • Enclose a completed registration form. We cannot hold a space for you unless you include your deposit.
  • Wait to hear from us. We will distribute the available scholarship money approximately two weeks before the training.

What are the advantages of taking your training?

  • We provide a detailed resource manual including a training workbook, materials on ethics, annotated bibliography, forms for professional practice, and membership forms for professional organizations. The training workbook includes materials on multicultural issues and starting a professional practice.
  • We have skilled instructors, talented coaches, and a practical approach. Instructors are experienced practitioners with over 20 years of combined mediation work in a wide variety of disputes. The training is based on practical, real-life situations. The program utilizes extensive role-play sessions for participants to integrate mediation skills with their personal styles. We use additional experienced practitioners as coaches to observe each simulation group. They provide immediate feedback on performance and constructive suggestions for successful mediation techniques.
  • UNM has developed a highly successful interactive format for its training programs. This format provides full opportunity to integrate concepts and skills through a combination of exercises, small group discussions, demonstrations and lectures. Our team teaching approach and multiple methods of presentation address participants' individual learning styles.
  • Our mediation courses have consistently received the highest ratings by practicing attorneys, judges, psychologists, and social workers who have attended the training.