40-Hour Basic Mediation Training Conferences with Dr. Benjamin J. Earwicker, J.D., Ph.D.
The 40-Hour Basic Mediation Training is organized around five content areas:
Each of these five areas is explored in detail throughout the Basic Mediation Training. Our trainings offer you in-depth instruction, resources, and hands-on practice with each of these content areas. You will also learn how to integrate each of these interrelated areas into your own practice as a mediator.
Welcome to our 40-Hour Basic Mediation Training page! 2024 trainings will be held in San Diego (June 10-14, 2024) and Washington, D.C. (August 12-16, 2024). Click on any bolded heading below or keep scrolling for all the information you need to enroll in your mediation training with Virtual Mediation and the Mediation Network of North America.
Dr. Ben Earwicker has more than 20 years’ experience in education, the social sciences, conflict resolution, and mediation. In addition to his private mediation practice, he currently directs a state-wide mediation program, providing mediation training and supervision to a team of civil rights investigators and mediators. He has provided expert consulting and training to hundreds of businesses and thousands of participants.
By the end of the Basic Mediation Training, you will gain knowledge of mediation theory, structure, and procedures. You will learn and develop mediation and negotiation skills. And you will actively engage in the analysis of ethical, legal, and social issues in mediation.
I hope you’ll join me in San Diego or Washington, D.C. to jump-start your mediation practice with my 40-Hour Basic Mediation Training.
You’ll find that my experience as a mediator, educator, and mediation program administrator create a unique and valuable approach to mediation training.
Thank you for visiting Virtual Mediation and the Mediation Network of North America. I’ll see you in training!
Our June 2024 training will take place at the Omni Hotels and Resort San Diego, located in the vibrant Gaslamp Quarter and across from the San Diego Convention Center and Embarcadero. The airport is just 15 minutes away, and when you’re not in training, you can explore nearby Balboa Park and other area attractions. From the Omni San Diego, you can take a quick ferry to Coronado Island and bike one of the area’s many urban bike paths.
Hotel conference space will be confirmed in early November, and Basic Mediation Training participants will receive a discounted group rate when booking your stay at the Omni. You can make a reservation today and then update your reservation with the group code once that is posted.
For even more ideas on area activities, including Petco Park next door and hundreds of restaurants within walking distance, check out the Omni San Diego’s Concierge Attraction List and start planning today!
Our August 2024 training will take place at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill, the closest hotel to the U.S. Capitol. The airport is just 15 minutes away, and when you’re not in training, you can explore nearby monuments and other D.C. attractions. From the Hyatt Regency Washington, you can take a stroll in the Capitol Hill neighborhood and walk to countless museums, restaurants, and historical sites.
Hotel conference space will be confirmed in early November, and Basic Mediation Training participants will receive a discounted group rate when booking your stay at the Hyatt. You can make a reservation today and then update your reservation with the group code once that is posted.
For even more ideas on area activities, including the nearby Library of Congress and the White House, check out the Hyatt Regency Washington Concierge Attraction List and start planning today!
Enroll today in one of our 2024 Trainings
The 40-Hour Basic Mediation Training curriculum is designed by professor and mediator Ben Earwicker, J.D., Ph.D., to provide a structured approach to foundational mediation content, opportunities to practice and reinforce specific skills, and opportunities to review key components of the training at the end of each session.
The curriculum design integrates best practices in pedagogy and instructional methods, drawing on Dr. Earwicker’s nearly 15 years as a professor teaching undergraduate students in the United States and New Zealand.
The format of training maximizes the value of instructional time, reinforces mediator skills through experiential learning, and provides a fun and engaging forum for learning to mediate.
In addition to Dr. Earwicker’s skilled training sessions each day, participants will also hear from expert mediators who provide insight into each of the five content areas from their own mediation practice.
By the end of the Basic Mediation Training, you will gain knowledge of mediation theory, structure, and procedures. You will learn and develop mediation and negotiation skills. And you will actively engage in the analysis of ethical, legal, and social issues in mediation.
In terms of knowledge, participants will be able to competently discuss various dispute resolution strategies, methods, and goals, including the six foundations of mediation and the importance of ethical practice. Participants will be able to articulate the difference between interests and positions, as well as the value of mediation in the social and legal contexts.
In terms of skills, participants will be able to structure and facilitate a complete mediation, from initial contact with a client and structuring the mediation to developing an agenda, beginning mediation caucuses and conferences, bringing closure to the mediation, and drafting a final agreement. Participants will be able to implement critical mediation skills, including perceptive information gathering, strategies for generating movement in mediation, and providing evaluative feedback as appropriate.
In terms of analysis, participants will be able to critically assess ethical dilemmas in their own mediation practice and anticipate concerns about mediator impartiality and non-representation of parties. Participants will be able to identify and respond to imbalances of power while avoiding inappropriate or coercive techniques in mediation. Participants will be able to evaluate the Uniform Mediation Act and the relationship between law, courts, and private mediation practice. Finally, participants will be able to reflect on and respond creatively to diverse social and cultural norms and expectations as they relate to mediation and dispute resolution.
Each of the one-day, 8-hour sessions is organized to provide both content instruction and interactive, role-play mediation simulations to practice and implement the session’s educational material.
Mediation simulations, including preparation, simulation, and debrief, comprise 15 hours of the 40-hour curriculum. Content instruction comprises the remaining 25 hours, including training in foundational mediation knowledge and skills; guest expert presentations on ethics, methods, and best practices in mediation; and discussion of training materials and recommended reading.
Daily sessions begin at 7:45 and end at 5:15, with a one-hour lunch break and two 15-minute breaks. In most states and jurisdictions, breaks do not count toward the 40 required training hours, either for basic mediation training or for CLEs. The daily session schedule provides a full 40 hours of training, not including breaks.
Review and synopsis of prior day’s content
Presentation of new content
Break
Individual and group learning activities
Preparation for afternoon simulation
Lunch
Expert Q&A
Afternoon simulation
Break
Simulation debrief and discussion
Synopsis and review
Welcome to Virtual Mediation and the Mediation Network of North America! I've designed the 40-hour basic mediation trainings to provide a comprehensive foundation for your own mediation practice. Enroll in mediation training today!
Dr. Ben Earwicker has more than 20 years’ experience in education, the social sciences, conflict resolution, and mediation. In addition to his private mediation practice, he currently directs a state-wide mediation program, providing mediation training and supervision to a team of civil rights investigators and mediators.
Ben completed bachelor degrees in psychology, social work, Spanish, and international studies. He completed a master’s degree in International Studies, and a J.D., Ph.D. in Spanish and Latin American Studies, writing his dissertation on power dynamics in intercultural contexts.
Ben taught undergraduate students for nearly 15 years in New Zealand and the United States and served as department chair and administrator of several academic departments. He designed new academic programs while managing a dual-enrollment college credit program in the Pacific Northwest. He continues to mentor and supervise more than 30 language teachers teaching his courses throughout Idaho, Oregon, and Washington state.
Ben’s curriculum design and teaching utilize the best pedagogical methods and educational research to engage learners and maximize skill-building throughout his 40-hour basic mediation trainings.
In his roles as academic and government administrator, Ben has successfully mediated and conciliated dozens of disputes. He has provided expert consulting and training to hundreds of businesses and thousands of participants. His background in political science, psychology, and social work have prepared him to approach the most difficult and challenging conflicts with a fresh, new perspective.
Contact us to request CLE credits in your state. Some states have already been approved for CLEs. If we do not have pre-approval for your state, we request that you notify us at least 30 days prior to your conference so we can submit a request to the state bar and secure the necessary approvals.