The series of free court-annexed mediation seminars conducted by the Cook County Circuit Court Law Division resumed April 13 and will continue on the second Thursday of each month.

Co-sponsored by the ISBA Alternative Dispute Resolution Section, the brown-bag luncheon programs for judges, lawyers and mediators are presented from 12 noon to 1:45 p.m. in courtroom 2005 of the Richard J. Daley Center in Chicago.

Although there is no charge to attend, reservations should be made by calling Raimondi Ferenzi at (312) 603-6078 or Kim Atz at (312) 793-0125.

The next seminar, on Thursday, May 11, is “Mediation Update: Case Law, Statutes and Rules.” Speakers are Robert Moss and Prof. Thomas D. Cavenagh of North Central College, a member of the ADR Section Council.

The remaining schedule, subject to change, follows.

Thursday, June 8 – “Mediation or Ar--bitra-tion: What They Are and When Each Should be Used.” Speakers are retired judge Michael S. Jordan, chair of the ADR Section Council; section council member David Scott Carfello of the National Association of Securities Dealers, and John G. Laurie of ADR Systems of America.

There will be no seminar in July or August.

Thursday, Sept. 14 – “The Ten Worst Moves by Counsel in Mediation: A 24-Year Perspective,” with William E. Hartgering of JAMS.

Thursday, Oct. 12 – A roundtable discussion by former judges on “What Lawyers and Mediators Should Do for Successful Mediation.” Speakers are Thomas P. Durkin, Michael J. Hogan, John E. Morrissey, Richard A. Siebel and Michael C, Zissman.

Thursday, Nov. 9 – “Developing a Map of Underlying Disputes Impeding Resolution,” with Steven Schwartz.

Program topics and presenters will be announced later for seminars on Dec. 14, Jan. 11, Feb. 8, March 8 and April 12.