The Texas Alternative Dispute Resolution Act requires court-connected mediators to complete 40 hours of basic mediation training and an additional 24 hours of family mediation training for family dispute cases.
Before or after completing your mediation training, you will want to identify your local court or DRC (Dispute Resolution Centre) roster requirements if you intend to practice entirely or partially as a court mediator. The below tables provide some insight into basic court requirements for mediators in different counties and districts of Texas. You should use this information as a starting point in your research and contact your relevant local body for clarification and confirmation.
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Sr.No.
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Court-connected Panels
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Requirements
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Website
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1.
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Southern District Court
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Membership in the bar of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas; License to practice law for at least ten years; Completion of at least forty hours training in dispute resolution techniques in an alternative dispute resolution course approved by the State Bar of Texas Minimum Continuing Legal Education department.
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2.
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Austin County DRC
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(Under Southern District) 40-hour basic mediation training; Expected to commit to mediate at least 6 times per year; 8 hours of Continuing Education required each year.
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3.
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Brazos County DRC
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(Under Southern District) 40-hour basic mediation training; 30-hour family law mediation training for family dispute cases.
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4.
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Fort Bend County DRC
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(Under Southern District) 40-hour basic mediation training
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5.
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Montgomery County DRC
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(Under Southern District) 40-hour basic mediation training
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6.
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Nueces County DRC
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(Under Southern District) 40-hour of Mediation Training in Empowerment Style Mediation; Must observe a mediation and participate in three co-mediations; 32-hour Family Mediation training for family dispute cases.
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7.
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Lubbock County ADR Services
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(Under Northern District) 40-hour basic mediation training
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8.
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Tarrant County DRC
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(Under Northern District) 40-hour basic mediation training; 30-hour family mediation training for family dispute cases.
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9.
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McLennan County DRC
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(Under Western District) 40-hour basic mediation training; 30-hour family mediation training for family dispute cases; 20-hour CPS Mediation Training for child protection cases.
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10.
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Central Texas DRC
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40-hour basic mediation training
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11.
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Panhandle Regional DRC
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40-hour basic mediation training
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Practicum programs allow newly-qualified mediators to gain valuable experience by taking part in real-life mediations as observers, co-mediators and mediators. Most practicum programs operate on an unpaid voluntary basis for participants whilst other receive a fee for providing experiential opportunities.
Please note that the below list is not exhaustive.
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Sr.No.
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Requirements
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Requirements
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|---|---|---|
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1.
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University of North Texas
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Complete 12 semester hours of designated ADR courses and 9 semester hours of electives
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2.
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University of Texas Arlington
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2 observations at the Dallas County DRC
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