Can mediation standards butt lawyer rules?

“Serving Two Masters: The Attorney-Mediator's Dilemma” is the title of a free workshop that will be conducted at 12 noon Thursday, Feb. 9, in courtroom 2005 of the Richard J. Daley Center.

Speakers are Assistant Clinical Prof. Pamela A. Kentra of Chicago-Kent College of Law, and Susan Yates, executive director of the Center for Analysis of Dispute Resolution Systems.

Among topics they will discuss are ABA/AAA Standards of Conduct for Mediators, whether they coexist or conflict with Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct, what to do when a conflict arises, and confidentiality in the context of mediation.

The monthly brown-bag programs for judges, lawyers and mediators interested in enhancing knowledge of court-annexed mediation skills and procedures are sponsored by the Cook County Circuit Court Law Division and the ISBA Alternative Dispute Resolution Section Council.

To register, call Raimonda Ferenzi at (312) 603-6078 or Kim Atz at (312) 793-0125.

The final workshop will take place Thursday, March 9, on the subject of “Co-mediation of Medical Negligence Cases.” Speakers are attorneys Geoffrey L. Gifford and Richard Donohue.