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Event Information
Family Court Mediation Certification & Advanced Negotiation Workshop
March 22, 2025 - March 26, 2025
Credits
N/A
MCLE: 40.00
Ethics: 2.00
Pricing
Dates
Saturday, March 22, 2025 - Wednesday, March 26, 2025Time
8:30 AM - 6:00 PMRegistration Deadline
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Live Only at SC Bar Conference Center, 1501 Park
Street, Columbia SC 29201
If you’re interested in becoming a South Carolina Supreme Court Certified Family Court Mediator, the first step is completing the Family Court Mediator Training Program offered by the South Carolina Bar. This 40-hour program is approved by the Commission on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and satisfies all requirements of ADR Rule 20(b). It has also been accredited by the SC Supreme Court Commission on CLE and Specialization for 40.00 hours of MCLE, including up to 2.0 hours of LEPR.
The course is highly interactive, focusing on practical training and skills development rather than traditional classroom lectures.
Presenters Bruce M. Poore and Haley Harden will guide participants through the program, offering opportunities to learn new skills and enhance existing ones to prepare for a successful start in mediation.
The program covers essential topics, including the mediation process, the role of a mediator, organizing a mediation conference, mediation techniques, conflict resolution, court procedures, substantive law, ethics, Online Dispute Resolution, and agreement writing.
Participants will engage in hands-on activities that simulate all aspects of a mediation conference, providing real-world experience in the role of a mediator.
This program is an excellent starting point for those looking to begin a career in Family Court mediation.
NOTE:
TRAINING IS NOT THE SAME AS CERTIFICATION
Anyone may take these
classes to become a well-trained mediator. However, training does not guarantee
certification by the S.C. Board of Arbitrator & Mediator Certification; you
must also be eligible for certification, of which training is only one requirement.
For all Board certification requirements, please read closely court-annexed
ADR Rule 19, available at www.scbar.org/adr, along with applications, roster,
FAQs and much more.
About the
Trainers
Bruce M. Poore
graduated from the University of South Carolina with a B.A. in Philosophy in
1974 and from the University of South Carolina School of Law with a J.D. in
1977.
From 1977 to 1979 Mr. Poore served as a law clerk to Associate Justice George
T. Gregory, Jr. and during those two years he received a priceless education
from a wonderful mentor. After completing his clerkship with Judge Gregory, he
returned home to York County. Mr. Poore enjoyed a brief stint as Municipal
Judge for the Town of Clover; a couple of years as an Assistant Solicitor for
the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit; and a lengthy tenure as a coach for the
Northwestern High School Mock Trial team. He is a former certified Rider Coach
for the Harley Davidson Motorcycle Rider's Edge New Riders Course and Skilled
Riders Course. Mr. Poore is an Eagle Scout.
As with most
small town attorneys, Mr. Poore began his practice by taking the legal work
that walked in his door. Finding his primary interests to be working with the
people and the issues involved in family disputes, he focused his practice in
the area of Family Law. He is trained as a Collaborative Family Attorney and
participates as a member of a team of collaborative divorce consultants in his
home area. Mr. Poore currently serves as a volunteer Mediator for the York
County Family Court Self Represented Litigant Mediation Program. Presently his
practice is limited to Mediation and Collaborative Law.
In July 2012
Mr. Poore took his first Family Court Mediation Training Program with Ms. Bryan
and Mr. Sarratt and also took the Circuit Court Civil Mediator Course in August
2013. Finding a calling in family mediation, he took the Family Court Mediation
Training again in March 2016 and July 2017 and began to assist the trainers.
The South Carolina Bar is an accredited CLE provider in South Carolina only. Attorneys are responsible for seeking their own credit in other jurisdictions.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in CLE programs and publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the South Carolina Bar, its sections, or committees. The South Carolina Bar believes that all Bar members have the right to both meaningful learning and to the exchange of ideas in a civil environment. The Bar reserves the right to remove or exclude any person from a Bar event if that person is causing inappropriate disturbance, behaving in a manner inconsistent with accepted standards of decorum, or in any way preventing fellow Bar members from meaningful participation and learning.
Registration Fees
| Price Description | Amount |
|---|
Agenda
Speakers
| Name | Organization | Speaking At |
|---|---|---|
| Bruce Poore | - | |
| Haley Harden | - |
Policy
Continuing Education
Agenda
8:15 a.m. - 5:15 p.m. each day, one hour for lunch, 15-minute breaks morning and afternoon
DAY 1
8:15 a.m. Registration
8:15 a.m. Welcome; Housekeeping; Schedule; Materials
8:45 a.m. Brief Introduction to Mediation: How does it Differ from other forms of Conflict Resolution?
Rule 1-Self-Determination
9:00 a.m. Introductions of Each Other (in pairs, then to group)
9:45 a.m. Conflict: Introduction to and discussion of Conflict Paradigm. If we are going to deal with conflict resolution, it might help to know a bit about conflict itself
10:15 a.m. Break
10:30 a.m. Role Play-Ray and Barbara-Conflict Resolution in a Fishbowl
Introductory Discussion of Substantive Law: Authority of Family Court, Motions for Temporary Relief, Affidavits in Temporary Hearings, Temporary and final orders, Temporary and merits hearings, Time Periods
1. They try to work it out themselves
2. Temporary Hearing-conflict continues to increase, the parties feel Disconnected, Disempowered,
Disabled, and eventually Demonized
3. Mediation Demo
11:30 a.m. Debrief the Role Play
12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. Intake and Preparation: Stage 1
2:00 p.m. Listening Skills-Listening, Asking Questions, Reframing, Summarizing
3:00 p.m. Break
3:15 p.m. Opening Statement-Discussion, Demonstration
4:00 p.m. Interactive-Write & Practice Opening Statements
5:00 p.m. Debrief Opening Statements
5:15 p.m. Adjourn
DAY 2
8:15 a.m. Ethics/Standards
9:00 a.m. Separation and Divorce-Emotional Impact--How parties are feeling
9:30 a.m. Mediation-Early Stages
1. Preparation
2. Mediator Opening Statement
3. Party Opening Statement
10:15 a.m. Break
10:30 a.m. Discussion of substantive South Carolina law and procedure that is applicable to the Role play
Temporary and Merits Hearing; Care, custody, support of children; Scope of mediation in family court cases; Fault Grounds
11:00 a.m. Role Play-Who Moves Out?
Reference Role Play Guide, Observation Forms.
Focus on Listening Skills, Opening Statements, What worked well, Challenges
12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. Debrief the Role Play
1:30 p.m. Children's Issues
2:30 p.m. Mediator Role-Job Description
3:00 p.m. Break
3:15 p.m. Discussion of substantive South Carolina law and procedure that is applicable to the role play
Parenting Plan; Sole custody, joint custody, split custody; Visitation; Best interest standard; Decision-making; Children in Court; Child Support Guidelines (Parent cannot contract away support); Criteria for determining Support; Duration of Support; Educational Expenses; Medical Insurance and childcare, Dependency Exemptions
4:00 p.m. Role Play -School Daze
5:00 p.m. Debrief the Role Play
5:15 p.m. Adjourn
DAY 3
8:15 a.m. Ethics/Standards
9:00 a.m. Middle Stages
Stage 4--- Organizing the Mediation Topics List
Stage 5--- Gathering Information-Preparing for the Mediation
Stage 6--- Identifying and Clarifying Interests
Positional Bargaining vs. Interests/Values
10:00 a.m. Break
10:15 a.m. Discussion of substantive South Carolina law and procedure that is applicable to the role play
Alimony (Fifteen factors to consider, types of Alimony), Dates of valuation, Allocation of Debt; Equitable Apportionment, Capital Gains and Losses, Depreciation of rental and business property, Marital and non-Marital Property defined
11:15 a.m. Role Play-Show me the Money
12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. Debrief the Role Play-- Focus on Opening Statements, Organization, Identifying Interests, What worked well, Challenges
1:30 p.m. People Issues
Balance of Power Temporary Orders
High Emotions Guardians ad litem
Personality Types Gender Differences
2:30 p.m. Use of Caucus-slow down the process, attend to the people
3:00 p.m. Dealing with Impasses-What is Impasse?
3:15 p.m. Break
3:30 p.m. Discussion of substantive South Carolina law and procedure that is applicable to the role play
Fault Grounds, Mediator Responsibilities, Authority of Court to waive or order mediation, Post-decree cases; Can mediated agreements be changed, and when? Contempt; modification of prior Court Orders
4:30 p.m. Role Play-Busted and Angry
5:00 p.m. Debrief the Role Play-- Focus on Opening Statements, People Skills, Use of Caucus, What worked well, Challenges
5:15 p.m. Adjourn
DAY 4
8:15 a.m. Ethics/Standards
9:00 a.m. Financial Information/Resources; Retirement; Technological Resources
9:30 a.m. Working with Attorneys in the Mediation
9:45 a.m. Stage 7-Generating Options
Brainstorming Reality Testing
Making Offers Analyzing Options
10:00 a.m. Break
10:15 a.m. Discussion of substantive South Carolina law and procedure that is applicable to the role play-how cases arrive in mediation; pro se parties; Wills, Life Insurance, Social Security; Retirement and Pensions, QDRO's; Family and closely held businesses
11:00 a.m. Role Play-Alimony & Property-Blanche and Marvin
12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. Debrief the Role Play
Focus on Opening Statement, What's different with Attorneys Present, Organizing, Skills Used, Challenges
2:00 p.m. Outside Influences: Help or Hindrance?-Stakeholders, Professionals, GAL's, Step-parents, grandparents
2:30 p.m. Young, Unmarried Parents; Retirement Age; Various Demographics
3:00 p.m. Break
3:15 p.m. Discussion of Substantive South Carolina law and procedure that is applicable to the role play
Roles of Mediators, Attorneys, and Guardians ad litem; Emancipated Minors; Unmarried parents, Paternity actions; Grandparents Rights; DSS cases
4:00 p.m. Role Play-Parents as Partners
Focus on Opening Statement, Challenges with Teen Parents, Use of Attorneys and Caucus, Organizing
5:00 p.m. Debrief the Role Play
5:15 p.m. Adjourn
DAY 5
8:15 a.m. Ethics/Standards
9:00 a.m. Domestic Violence Screening-guest speaker
(Includes Substantive Law Discussion--definitions of domestic abuse, contempt actions, protective orders, waiving of mediation)
10:00 a.m. Break
10:15 a.m. Stage 8-Developing Agreements
Finalizing, Writing, using Attachments
BATNA
10:30 a.m. Online Dispute Resolution
Benefits and Pitfalls, Platforms, Hybrid Model, Best Practices, Tips Demonstration of use of Breakout Rooms, Getting Signatures
11:00 a.m. Discussion of Mediator Certification
11:30 a.m. Discussion of Volunteer and Networking Opportunities-Making Change Happen
12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. Role Play-Daddy's Girls-(Fishbowl)
2:00 p.m. Debrief the Role Play
3:00 p.m. Collaborative Law
4:00 p.m. Debrief the Class
What helped the Lightbulbs go on?
What helped turn the corner?
What was most useful?
Suggestions
5:00 p.m. Evaluation Forms
Present Certificates
Take Class Picture
5:15 p.m. Adjourn