LIVE WEB - 40 Hour Mediation Training - 2026 Spring
ISBA Alternative Dispute Resolution Section
Live Webcast via Zoom
(A link to the Zoom classroom will be emailed to registrants.)
Each Wednesday from February 4, 2026 – April 29, 2026
4:00 – 7:15 p.m. each session
(Please Note: The last two sessions in this 13-part series will add an additional 30 minutes.)
--Register Early – Space is Limited!--
40.0 hours MCLE credit, including 40.0* hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following category: Professionalism, Civility, Legal Ethics, or Sexual Harassment Prevention MCLE credit
Each session will be held weekly on Thursdays from 4:00 – 7:15 p.m. Attendance to all sessions is required
to earn the complete 40 hours of CLE credit. Breaks for holiday consideration have been included.
Mediation is designed to resolve differences both in and out of the courts. It requires a very different mindset than courtroom litigation. This Master Series program trains practitioners to resolve conflicts in a non-adversarial, non-confrontational manner, allowing peaceful resolutions between parties.
The program is taught by Case Ellis, Missy Greathouse, and Jerald Kessler – nationally recognized mediators, authors, educators, and full-time alternative dispute resolution practitioners.
Mr. Ellis has been a co-instructor of 40 hour training courses for mediators outside the USA with the head of International Training for ADR, one of the UK’s largest ADR providers. He has taught a graduate course in Conflict Resolution at North Central College in Naperville, IL, and lectured at numerous seminars in the U.S. on various litigation and ADR matters. He has trained mediators in London, UK, Dublin, Ireland, Belfast, Northern Ireland, and Thessaloniki Greece, as well as throughout the Midwestern U.S., and lectured law students on mediation in the Italian cities of Milan, Turin, Modena, Florence, and Rome. He is a frequent lecturer and author of articles regarding ADR and Juries.
Ms. Greathouse serves as the Executive Director of Dispute Resolution Institute, Inc. and has played an integral role in the development, implementation, and administration of all mediation programs provided by DRI. She is very active in various organizations that focus on mediation and other alternative dispute resolution methods. Additionally, she serves on ISBA’s Steering Committee on Racial Inequality and teaches Mediation Skills and Alternative Dispute Resolution at Southern Illinois University School of Law.
Mr. Kessler has conducted over 2,500 mediation cases in the last 32 years. He provides advanced mediation trainings, a monthly case consultation group for other mediators, an internship for new mediators, and has presented at numerous local, state, and national mediation conferences. Mr. Kessler is an Advanced Practitioner Member of the Association for Conflict Resolution, a founding member and Advanced Practitioner Member of the Academy of Professional Family Mediators, founding treasurer of the Illinois Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, and is a past President of the Mediation Council of Illinois. Mr. Kessler was the Mediation Council of Illinois’ delegate to the national consortium which drafted the Model Standards of Divorce Mediation Practice adopted by the ABA, AFCC and ACR.
Program Speakers:
H. Case Ellis, Law Office of H. Case Ellis, Cary
Missy Greathouse, Dispute Resolution Institute, Inc., Glen Carbon
Jerald A. Kessler, Professional Mediation, Libertyville
Attendees will receive a copy of The Practice of Mediation: A Video-Integrated Text, 3 rd Edition, which will be mailed to registrants prior to the program’s start date.
Past Attendee Comments:
Case, Missy, and Jerry provide real-time feedback which is invaluable no matter how long you have been practicing law. Dave Clark, Fall 2023
I would give all of the presenters the highest rating. Their experience was shared so freely to give us the greatest possible knowledge and tools for our own practice. Attendee, Fall 2022
Best CLE class I have ever taken. Loved the instructors and the material. Attendee, Spring 2022
Very practical, in-depth, how-to for mediations. Learning the techniques will enable me to better explain the process to my clients, but also to carefully consider why settlement through mediation is the best result. Attendee, Fall 2021
Excellent program for learning mediation. Paul Storment, Spring 2021
This was one of the best courses I have ever taken. I looked forward to every class and was sorry when it was over. Marsha L. Combs-Skinner, Fall 2020
The instructors were excellent in keeping the class’s attention and making the materials enjoyable and interesting to learn. Attendee, Fall 2020
Program Schedule:
Session 1, February 4, 2026
After class and instructor introductions, the opening session of this program offers an introductory look at the history of mediation, why moving from the courtroom to the conference table is important, the reasons mediation is successful, and the common questions asked about mediation.
Session 2, February 11, 2026
Learn how to prepare mediator opening remarks as our instructors demonstrate how the opening remarks of a mediator should silence the storm, build rapport, and create a nonjudgmental environment. If time permits, students will be given an opportunity to practice mediator openings.
Session 3, February 18, 2026
This session is reserved for students to practice their mediator opening remarks, followed by critiques from the instructors. When done with practice, we will begin discussing “caucusing.” This session examines caucus mediation – from how to prepare and how to create your opening remarks, to the goal of the first caucus.
Session 4, February 25, 2026
Students will do an initial simulation of the opening session including mediator’s opening, parties opening, and caucus.
Session 5, March 4, 2026
Initial simulations will continue.
Discover the various formats for mediation as well as the role of the mediator in each.
Session 6, March 11, 2026
The program continues with a look at the preliminary considerations to mediation, including the financial viability of the defendant, the costs incurred by each party, the results of counsel’s last trial, the stress levels of each party, and more.
Session 7, March 18, 2026
Explore miscellaneous topics including: case on motion for summary judgment, case on appeal, the unpredictability of jurors, the stress of trial proceedings, solvency of the defendant, polygraph tests, and then we’ll talk about starting/growing a mediation or arbitration practice.
Session 8, March 25, 2026
This week we explore conference mediation and techniques and begin simulations adding conferencing.
Session 9, April 1, 2026
Continued simulations.
Session 10, April 8, 2026
This afternoon we'll talk about arbitration as well as discussing online dispute resolution options, their success rate, and how prevalent virtual mediation may become in the future.Gain a better understanding of the advanced peacemaker techniques you need to know in order to be a successful mediator, including how to be diligent and responsible; how to build rapport and trust; how to be patient, positive, and in control; how to maintain impartiality; and much more.
Session 11, April 15, 2026
As the program winds down, each student will put the skills and knowledge they’ve learn to use by mediating a mock case.
Session 12, April 22, 2026 (Please note the adjusted time on this session: 4:00-7:45 p.m.)
Student Mediation Continued
Session 13, April 29, 2026 (Please note the adjusted time on this session: 4:00-7:45 p.m.)
Student Mediation Continued
(This course may or may not satisfy the requirements to be a family law mediator in your circuit. Please check with your local circuit court.)
*Professional Responsibility MCLE credit subject to approval
**Upon completion of the course, you may visit www.cookcountycourt.org/FORATTORNEYSLITIGANTS.aspxfor application details to be certified in the Law Division and/or the Chancery Division of the Cook County court.
Pricing Information
Fees:
- ISBA Member - $1,350
- Non-Member - $1,750
Cancellation Policy:
A full refund for the CLE registration is available up to 14 days prior to the program; however, the course book is non-refundable once the book has been mailed out to attendees 14 days prior to the program start date.