The Nineteenth Judicial Circuit is hosting a free Florida Supreme Court Certified County Mediation Certification Training. If you have a desire to help others, an interest in the law, and a willingness to follow proper procedures for dispute resolution - then this training is for you!
Pre-registration and an interview is required prior to attending this certification training.
Beginning at 8:30 a.m. each day and ending at 4:00 p.m., the four-day training will be from June 21 – June 24th. Eligibility requirements include a minimum high school diploma or a General Equivalency Diploma (GED) at least 21 years of age. Applicants must be able to pass a Level 2 background check. Other requirements for certification include close mentorship and shadowing.
To successfully complete the certification training, trainees must attend all four (4) days. Additional hours and ongoing education will be required from certified individuals to maintain their certification. A certified mediator should be able to handle cases such as: family, divorce or business matters.
The training will be held virtually via Zoom. Individuals must follow pre-registration instructions below.
Mediators who hold a certification in county mediation mediate county court cases which involve claims up to $30,000.00. Examples of county cases include: landlord/tenant, credit cards, auto repairs, employment and neighborhood / community disputes.
Those who work within the court mediation program are assigned dates on a monthly basis to attend pre-trial hearings and mediate cases when there is a dispute. Mediators may mediate in any of the four counties in the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit which include Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin and/or Okeechobee courthouses.
Mediators who have a contract with the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit’s mediation program are compensated at a rate of $20 per case for small claims cases and $50 per case for county civil cases. There is no reimbursement for travel.
To receive this free training, trainees must agree to/understand the following:
• Participate in an interview with the Nineteenth Circuit’s ADR Director prior to the training.
• Observe a county mediation prior to attending the certification training.
• Understand and honor the commitment made to mediate in the local mediation program.
• A willingness to observe and/or co-mediate cases after training - as part of the certification process.
• Understand that the role of a mediator is to help people resolve their own disputes and that mediators are not decision-makers for parties.
• Understand that there are initial fees to become a certified mediator and that the trainee is responsible for those fees ($20 application fee and $40 certification fee).
• Ability to pay for and pass a Level 2 Fingerprint Background Check. Current list of Livescan Device Vendors and Service Providers are located here: http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/.../ApplicantLivescanService...
• Certification renewal every 2 years, which requires a minimum of sixteen (16) hours of continuing education in mediation.
If you are interested in participating in this training or have any questions about this training or about mediation in the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, please contact Kara Lawson, ADR Director, at (772) 807-4375 or LawsonK@circuit19.org.