Attorney General’s Office Offers Training for Volunteer Mediators

(Phoenix, Ariz. – March 10, 2005)  The Arizona Attorney General’s Office Civil Rights Division, in partnership with the Arizona Supreme Court Administrative Office of the Court, is offering 40-hour basic mediation courses free of charge to train persons to mediate local court disputes.  These courses are open to all members of the public.  However, in exchange for the free training, those who successfully complete the course must agree to mediate a certain number of court disputes on a pro bono basis. These disputes involve small claims, commercial, and other types of cases.  The Attorney General’s Office has been training mediators for the courts since 1984, and has its own volunteer mediation program for resolving civil rights cases. 

Cheryl Pietkiewicz took the 40-hour basic mediation training two and a half years ago and has mediated cases for the Pinal and Maricopa County Justice Courts and the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.  “This training has been invaluable to me in my professional life,” Pietkiewicz said.  “As a trained mediator I have learned how to help people negotiate solutions when miscommunication and conflict occur.”      

This training will be offered at the following locations and dates:

  • Florence School District Office, 350 S. Main Street: March 16, 17, 18, 21 and 22
  • Tucson Attorney General’s Office, 400 W. Congress: March 31, April 1, 7, 8 and 14
  • Apache County – Location to be determined: April 20, 21, 22, 28 and 29
  • Tucson Attorney General’s Office, 400 W. Congress: May 4, 5, 6, 12 and 13

The training sessions begin each day at 8:30 a.m. with a working lunch and ends at 4:30 p.m.  All five days of training must be completed in order to be eligible to mediate for the courts.

If you are interested in registering for one of these training sessions or have questions, please contact Geni Acosta at the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.  Space is limited and advance registration is required.