The 40-hour Divorce Mediation Training & 8-Hour Massachusetts Divorce Law Curriculum

The 8-hour Divorce Law Basics Training Curriculum can be found at the bottom of this page.

Online this 40-hour training curriculum is spread out over 9 half-days. When we return to in-person meetings this is over 5 days.

Welcome & Introduction
Course Overview
Definition of Mediation, Structure & Process
Mediator Styles/Basics
Active Listening Skills & Open-Ended Questions
Mediation Steps
Psychological Stages of Divorce
Demos & Role Plays
Education Clients about Substantive Law without Giving Advice
Child Development & Post-Divorce Parenting Adjustment
Demos & Role Plays
Joint Problem Solving Steps – Finding Interests, Gathering & Evaluating Information
Use of Expert Information
Dealing with the Marital Home
Option Generation & Evaluation
Fish Bowls & Role Plays
Assessing Power Imbalance/Addressing Power Imbalance
Brainstorming
Difficult Clients & High Conflict
Caucus – when and how
Domestic Violence
Client Screening: Domestic Violence, Mental Illness, Substance Abuse, Tax Fraud
Fish Bowls & Role Plays
Working with Attorneys
Getting Started Professionally
State Regulation of Mediators
Rule 8
Mediator Standards of Practice: ACR, MCFM, Other States
Confidentiality Statute/Privilege
Uniform Mediation Act
Mandated Reporter/Mediation Contract
Ethical Issues for a Mediator
Mediator Certification
Additional Training: Legal, Taxes, Child Development
Obtaining Mediation Experience
Mediation Organizations and Upcoming Conferences
Fish Bowls & Roleplays

The 8-hour Divorce Law Basics for Mediators Curriculum