Free Mediation Training Scheduled for Court Volunteers in Maricopa County

(Phoenix, Ariz. - Jan. 13, 2010) The Attorney General's Office, Civil Rights Division, in partnership with the Arizona Supreme Court Administrative Office of the Court, is offering a free 40-hour mediation course to train volunteers to help resolve court disputes specifically for the Northwest Regional Justice Court, 14264 W. Tierra Buena Lane, Surprise, Ariz. 

Mediators are neutral parties who try to help disputing parties reach agreements in various types of cases. Mediation is a valuable alternative to litigation; it can save time and money and reduce stress. 

This training course is open to the public. Disputes to be mediated can include small claims, commercial, truancy 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. 

The 40-hour mediation training will be offered at the following time and place:  

    -- Surprise City Court, Surprise, Ariz., February 1- 5, 2010 

Training sessions will run each day from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and include a working lunch. Participants must complete all five days of the scheduled training to become eligible to mediate for the NW Regional justice courts. After applicants successfully complete the 40-hour training, they will be asked to complete a Justice Court Mediation Application, sign off on an ethics and program requirement form and submit to a fingerprint/background check. Completion of the 40-hour training, forms and background check does not guarantee acceptance into the mediation program. 

Space is limited and advance registration is required. For more information or to register for this training session, please contact Kathy Plitt, Conflict Resolution Program Coordinator, Arizona Attorney General's Office, Civil Rights Division. Kathy can be reached by phone in Phoenix at 602-542-7657.