Maine Updates

No state requirements for the practice of mediation. The Court Alternative Dispute Resolution Service (CADRES) of the Maine Judicial Branch maintains Mediation Rosters. Court referrals must be made from the appropriate roster. (The CADRES Director may waive qualification criteria for a particular applicant.)

Qualifications for General Civil Litigation Roster:

Have a combination of 100 hours of training and experience including a minimum of 40 hours mediation process training (15 hours within 2 yrs of application), 20 hours experience as mediator or co-mediator with a CADRES mediator, and 10 hours training in civil law and court procedure.
15 hours annual continuing education in specified areas.

Qualifications for Superior Court Roster:

Be on the CADRES General Civil Litigation Roster, or have a combination of 100 hours of training and experience including a minimum of 40 hours mediation process training (15 hours within 2 yrs of application), 20 hours experience as mediator or co-mediator with a CADRES mediator, and 10 hours training in civil law and court procedure; and have the ability to conduct mediation, and receive a satisfactory criminal background check.
Complete a half-day orientation and training program on the Superior Court ADR Program; and 3) 15 hours annual continuing education in specified areas.

Qualifications for the Small Claims Roster:

Combination of 50 hours training and experience including a minimum of 20 hours mediation process training (8 hours within 2 yrs of application), 15 hours experience as mediator, facilitator of multi-party contested issues, or co-mediator with a CADRES mediator, and 3 hours training or experience in consumer or debtor/creditor law.
8 hours continuing education per year in specified areas.

Qualifications for the Environmental, Land Use, and Natural Gas Pipeline Roster:

Combination of 110 hours training and experience including a minimum of 40 hours mediation process training (15 hours within 2 yrs of application), 15 hours experience as mediator or co-mediator with a CADRES mediator, and 20 hours work experience or substantive training in a land use or environmental field, or other approved combination of training and experience.
Completion of CADRES land use mediation training.
15 hours continuing education per year in specified areas. Sources: Diane E. Kenty, Esq., Director, Court Alternative Dispute Resolution Service (CADRES), State of Maine Judicial Branch; Kathryn M. Ainsworth, President, Maine Association of Dispute Resolution Professionals; http://www.courts.state.me.us/whatsnew/ADRstatement.html