This 40 hour training program is highly interactive and engaging, and includes lecture, discussion,ethics exercises, mediation simulations and written exercises, including reducing a mediated agreement to writing. Covered topics include, among others, negotiation, dealing with unrepresented parties, diversity, court processes, communication in mediation, mediator ethics including confidentiality and disciplinary proceedings, how to start, build and maintain your mediation practice, mediating difficult cases, and dealing with attorneys in mediation.

The mediation simulation portion of the training requires that each class member participate in a one hour role play as a mediator, and in a second one hour role play as a party. Each of the required mediated role plays will also include a minimum of 20 minutes of oral and written feedback for the mediator.

Primary Trainer Profile

Charles N. Castagna, a Federal Mediator and Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit and Family Mediator, has mediated thousands of disputes since 1988 when he began volunteering with the 6 th Judicial Circuit's Citizen Dispute Settlement Program. Certified by the Florida Supreme Court in 1990 as a Circuit Mediator and in 1992 as a Family Mediator Mr. Castagna transitioned his law practice into a full time mediation practice in 1995. He began training mediators in 1993 in advanced circuit and family mediation courses offered by David Strawn, and currently teaches a monthly continuing mediator education (CME) class. From 1993 - 2001 he served on the Florida Supreme Court Standing Committee on Mediation and Arbitration Rules; as President of the Florida Association of Professional Family Mediators from 2000 - 2002; and as President of the Florida Academy of Professional Mediators from 2002 - 2005, during which time he assisted in the merger of the two mediator organizations into the Academy. Mr. Castagna maintains Diplomate status in the Academy. In 2006 Mr. Castagna received the Academy's Award of Merit in recognition of his “outstanding contribution to mediation in Florida.” He has been a frequent lecturer at Florida Bar and local bar association programs on ADR and mediation, and served as an adjunct professor of ADR at the Stetson University College of Law. From 2009 through 2011 Mr Castagna served as the Primary Trainer for the USF Conflict Resolution Collaborative 40 hour mediation certification program. In 2010 Mr. Castagna was appointed by the Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court to a four year term on the Mediator Ethics Advisory Committee (MEAC).

Continuing Legal Education Credits

This course is approved by the Florida Bar (Course #3007 2) for 47.50 C.L.E.R. credits including 8.5 Ethics credits.

TO REGISTER FOR THESE PROGRAMS, CLICK HERE FOR REGISTRATION INFORMATION