May 26, 2011 -- Professor Tasha Willis, right, participates in a mock mediation session with UH Law Center students as part of a course offered through the Blakely Advocacy Institute that qualifies participants as state certified mediators. The training is designed to give individuals the skills and credentials they need to serve as mediators (third party neutrals) in the state of Texas. The course fulfills the statutory requirements for mediation training under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. §154.052 (Alternative Dispute Resolution Procedures Act of Texas), as well as the Texas Mediation Trainers Roundtable Standards for Mediation Training. The 40-hour course also qualifies participants for court referred cases. The five days of training is comprised of lectures and simulated mediations.
At the end of the course students are provided with a certificate documenting that 40 hours of training were conducted in compliance with §154.052. As the training is provided to law students free of charge, except for a $50.00 administration fee, participants are required to observe one mediation and to conduct one volunteer mediation. Professor Willis and Judy Clark, the program manager, will assist the students in setting up the required mediations.
Upon completion of mediation requirements, participants are qualified to apply for membership in the Texas Mediators Credentialing Association (TMCA).
The next courses will be in August and October. For details, please contact Judy Clark at jclark@uh.edu or 713-742-2066.
