This workshop will discuss the newly expanded scope of domestic violence, termed now as "interpersonal violence." By using a combination of video clips, interactive polls, updated data on incidence of interpersonal violence, and red flag discussions, attendees of this workshop will be able to identify common myths about interpersonal violence; detail common "red flags" that may be seen in mediation where interpersonal violence has occurred between parties; and list suggested practices for safe management in mediation where interpersonal violence may be an issue. "Click Here for Visual Material"

Elder Law Mediation and Shared Family Decision Making is an emerging specialty for professional mediators. This trend is especially important in Florida where our population is among the oldest in the country. This session will provide an overview of the process as well as an exploration of the benefits and challenges the mediators of elder law issues can expect. Join trainers Professor Susan Dubow and Dr. Elinor Robin to find out if elder law mediation is a way for you to build an additional revenue stream, while making a real contribution.  

Assisted reproduction is becoming increasingly more common and plays a major role in modern family building, however, in some areas the law is still playing catch up with situations arising from disputes in this area. This workshop is aimed at introducing and working through the various mediation situations that could arise in cases involving assisted reproductive technology (i.e. sperm/egg/embryo donation and gestational surrogacy). This workshop will address a summary of the law as well as the potential problems that could arise with assisted reproduction in cases involving divorce, estate planning, and family building. It will explore the different scenarios that creating, using, and storing genetic material could bring and the interconnectedness of the various parties that are involved in getting to that point. It is important as a mediator to know what to look for and where to look for it to resolve disputes of this kind.The presentation will have various examples, both hypothetical and real life cases, to help illustrate the various situations and show the importance of having a familiarity with the subject. With the uncertainty that families using assisted reproduction face in the courts, mediation is an incredibly important step to reaching a resolution for something that is arguably one of the most important and personal decisions in a family, the potential to have a child. "Click Here for Visual Material"

This highly interactive presentation will begin by defining a shared description of hybrid dispute resolution processes compared to Florida Supreme Court certified mediation processes. In so doing, we will clearly identify both the ethical dangers of blending processes, as well as the potential benefits to savvy business users who may choose from the array of dispute resolution processes available. Combining mediation and another dispute resolution process should be done in a clear and transparent way, and only when parties fully understand the process they are selecting. We will examine the most common hybrid processes including Med-Arb, Arb-Med, Special Masters, Private Judging, Conciliation, ENE, etc. We will also explore the use of multiple processes such as Grievance Procedures, Collaborative Law, and Ombuds. Lastly, we will look at informal hybrid processes and ethical issues which can arise when there are no clear process guidelines and mutual understanding of the process. We will explore the cultural contexts from which hybrid dispute resolution emerged and how it fits with what we do in the United States, as well as in Florida. We will explore aspects such as the adaptability of our field, cultural fit of dispute resolution processes, and how the process and the problem have an interactive relationship.We will also highlight the obvious disadvantages and cautions in the use of hybrid. Finally, consider the future of hybrid models in our increasingly global communities. Three Sentence Description:It takes two to tango, but when we use hybrid dispute resolution processes, mediation dances to its own beat. This interactive presentation will create a shared description of hybrid dispute resolution processes compared to Florida Supreme Court certified mediation. In so doing, we will clearly identify both the ethical dangers of the casual blending of processes, as well as the potential benefits to savvy business or international users who wish to jointly and artfully choose from the array of dispute resolution processes available.