Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis and the Illinois Supreme Court announced today amendments to Supreme Court Rules of Professional Conduct (RPC). The rules amended are Rule 8.4(j), which addresses misconduct, and Rule 5.1, which addresses the responsibilities of partners, managers, and supervisory lawyers.
Live Webcast via Zoom
(A link to the Zoom classroom will be emailed to registrants.)
Each Thursday from September 5, 2024 to December 5, 2024
3:00 – 6:15 p.m. each session
(Please Note: The last two sessions in this 13-part series will add an additional 30 minutes.)
40 hours MCLE credit, including 40.0 hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following categories:
Mediation is designed to resolve differences both in and out of the courts, and requires a very different mindset than courtroom litigation. Join us for this Master Series program that focuses solely on family and divorce cases and trains practitioners to resolve these type of conflicts in a non-adversarial, non-confrontational manner. The program is offered via the Internet over the course of 13 weeks. The training covers the following topics to meet the standard requirements to serve as a family mediator in Illinois†:
Registrants will receive a copy of the course book: Family Mediation: Theory and Practice, 2nd Edition, 2015, by Jane C. Murphy and Robert Rubinson.
The program is taught by Case Ellis, Missy Greathouse, and Jerald Kessler – nationally recognized mediators, authors, educators, and full-time alternative dispute resolution practitioners.
Mr. Ellis has been a co-instructor of 40 hour training courses for mediators outside the USA with the head of International Training for ADR, one of the UK’s largest ADR providers. He has taught a graduate course in Conflict Resolution at North Central College in Naperville, IL, and lectured at numerous seminars in the U.S. on various litigation and ADR matters. He has trained mediators in London, UK, Dublin, Ireland, Belfast, Northern Ireland, and Thessaloniki Greece, as well as throughout the Midwestern U.S., and lectured law students on mediation in the Italian cities of Milan, Turin, Modena, Florence, and Rome. He is a frequent lecturer and author of articles regarding ADR and Juries.
Ms. Greathouse serves as the Executive Director of Dispute Resolution Institute, Inc. and has played an integral role in the development, implementation, and administration of all mediation programs provided by DRI. She is very active in various organizations that focus on mediation and other alternative dispute resolution methods. Additionally, she serves on ISBA’s Steering Committee on Racial Inequality and teaches Mediation Skills and Alternative Dispute Resolution at Southern Illinois University School of Law.
Mr. Kessler has conducted over 2,500 mediation cases in the last 32 years. He provides advanced mediation trainings, a monthly case consultation group for other mediators, an internship for new mediators, and has presented at numerous local, state, and national mediation conferences. Mr. Kessler is an Advanced Practitioner Member of the Association for Conflict Resolution, a founding member and Advanced Practitioner Member of the Academy of Professional Family Mediators, founding treasurer of the Illinois Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, and is a past President of the Mediation Council of Illinois. Mr. Kessler was the Mediation Council of Illinois’ delegate to the national consortium which drafted the Model Standards of Divorce Mediation Practice adopted by the ABA, AFCC and ACR.
Program Speakers:
H. Case Ellis, Law Office of H. Case Ellis, Cary
Missy Greathouse, Dispute Resolution Institute, Inc., Glen Carbon
Jerald A. Kessler, Professional Mediation, Libertyville
This course is now a Circuit Court of Cook County Court-Approved Mediation Training Program for those seeking to become a Domestic Relations Division Court-Certified Mediator**
Program Schedule:
Session 1, September 5, 2024
This opening segment offers an introductory look at mediation training, the course materials, and speakers, and a conflict style assessment.
Session 2, September 12, 2024
Gain a better understanding of conflict dynamics (including analysis, styles, and perceptions) and the mediation process/stages. A mediation demonstration and role play exercises are included this week.
Session 3, September 19, 2024
This session offers an overview on negotiations, the psychological impact on the family, the issues and needs of children, and the Illinois courts and rules.
Session 4, September 26, 2024***
The session will open with a 30 minute look at the cultural and diversity impacts in mediation and how to address the challenges to best represent the varied clients’ interests and assure their access to justice. The session will also include the pre-mediation process (including intake, screening for capacity, and retainer paperwork), how to set the stage for the mediation meeting, your opening statement, and more.
Session 5, October 3, 2024
This week offers role play and exercises regarding the mediator’s opening statement, as well as a discussion on the professional responsibilities of the mediator, what happens after the mediator opening, how to identify the issues and interests of the parties involved, and setting the agenda.
Session 6, October 10, 2024
Learn how to screen for and address domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, substance abuse, and mental health concerns with this informative presentation. A discussion on letting both parties describe their view of the problem is also included.
Session 7, October 17, 2024
This week offers role play and debriefing, problem solving options, and the information you may need to evaluate your options. Learn how to assist parties in creating their own options and how to work toward an agreement.
Session 8, October 24, 2024
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how to draft, build, confirm, and finalize agreements.
Session 9, October 31, 2024
This session offers an exercise in drafting mediation agreements, as well as caucus in family mediation.
Session 10, November 7, 2024
The discussion on family law and divorce mediation continues this week with full role play and debriefing.
Session 11, November 14, 2024
Attendees continue their full role play and debriefing.
Session 12, November 21, 2024 (Please note the adjusted time on this session: 3:00-6:45 p.m.)
Learn how to deal with difficult behaviors throughout the mediation process, how to set up and market your practice, the logistics of running a mediation practice (engagement letters, agreements to mediate, screening, advertising, etc.), co-mediation, and more.
Session 13, December 5, 2024 (Please note the adjusted time on this session: 3:00-6:45 p.m.)
Don’t miss this final opportunity to role play and debrief, ask questions, and reflect on all that has been learned throughout this 13-week program.
*Professional Responsibility MCLE credit subject to approval
**Upon completion of the course, you may visit the court’s website for application details to be certified as a mediator in the Domestic Relations Division of the Cook County Court.
*** This session includes 0.5 hours of Diversity and Inclusion MCLE credit
† Please check with your local circuit court to confirm this training will comply with the local rules.
Fees:
Cancellation Policy:
A full refund is available up to 7 days prior to the program, less a $25 administrative fee.
