Small claims mediators trained

Members of the Winnebago County Bar Association who are interested in becoming mediators in small claims court are planning to attend 32 hours of training over four days in the next two months.

Training sessions will be conducted on Fridays and Saturdays, March 27-28 and April 3-4, at the 17th Circuit Alterna tive Dispute Resolution Center in Rockford.

The WCBA contracted with the Center for Conflict Resolution in Chicago to coordinate the program, with assistance of a $6,000 grant from the Illinois Bar Foundation and additional funding from the Winnebago County Bar Foundation.

Lawyers who complete the entire 32-hour training will be eligible to provide mediation services in small claims court at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesdays. The Small Claims Mediation Program is available only when both parties are pro se.

Each eligible mediator will be scheduled four or five times during a six-month period, as part of a one-year commitment.