40 Hour Mediation Training – IN PERSON ONLY
40-Hour Mediation Training — The Foundation Colorado Mediators Are Expected to Have
The 40-Hour Basic Mediation Training is the foundational course for anyone pursuing a career as a mediator in Colorado. Although Colorado does not legally mandate training to practice as a mediator, 40 hours is the recognized professional standard — required by the Mediation Association of Colorado for certification, required by the Office of Dispute Resolution for court-referred work, and widely expected across alternative dispute resolution generally. Completing this course positions you to pursue those credentials and to practice with the skill and ethical grounding the profession expects.
Over five full days, you'll move from core concepts to live roleplay, building the judgment, communication skills, and ethical grounding that distinguish effective mediators from adequate ones. This isn't a lecture series. The training is interactive and skill-based, with a heavy emphasis on practice, feedback, and coaching. You'll draft opening statements, work through realistic roleplay scenarios with dedicated mediation coaches, learn to recognize and manage power imbalances and bias, and develop the self-awareness to understand how your own relationship with conflict shapes your work. You'll also leave with practical tools for building a mediation practice — including writing clear Memorandums of Understanding, navigating virtual versus in-person sessions, and understanding the dynamics when attorneys and Licensed Legal Paraprofessionals are at the table.
Your instructor, Ben Stetler, brings direct, results-oriented teaching rooted in a career spanning thousands of domestic and civil mediations. Recognized as a Colorado "Super Lawyer" in alternative dispute resolution, "Top Lawyer" by 5280 Magazine, and "People's Choice for Best Mediator" by Law Week Colorado's Barrister's Best, Ben teaches the craft the way he practices it — honestly, skillfully, and with deep respect for the people who walk into the room.
The book Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High is included with your registration.
100% attendance is required to receive the 40 Hour Mediation Training Completion Certificate.
What You'll Learn:
• The foundations of mediation, including how it differs from arbitration, settlement conferences, early neutral evaluation, and other dispute resolution processes
• What mediator neutrality actually looks like in practice — and the situations most likely to challenge it
• Core communication skills: active listening, reflecting, summarizing, open-ended questioning, and reframing
• The full arc of the mediation process, from preparation and opening statements through caucus sessions and final agreement
• How to recognize and respond to strong emotions without losing impartiality
• Ethical obligations, including confidentiality, conflicts of interest, and distinguishing good faith from bad faith participation
• How conflict affects the brain — including your own — and what that means for your work as a mediator
• Strategies for managing power imbalances and recognizing unconscious bias
• How to draft clear, effective Memorandums of Understanding
• Considerations for in-person versus virtual mediation
• The role of attorneys and LLPs, both as advocates and as mediators
• Screening for safety and knowing when mediation is not appropriate
• Practical guidance on starting and building your own mediation practice
CLE CREDITS: This program has been submitted for 40 General CLE Credits, including 1.8 Ethics/Professionalism Credits.
Cancellations: If you are unable to attend, please notify CBA-CLE by July 10, 2026, and we will gladly refund your tuition in full. Cancellations after July 10, 2026, will be refunded less a $150 cancellation fee.
The program is accredited in Colorado. CBA-CLE staff can provide a Uniform Certificate of Attendance, and it is the attendee's responsibility to complete the accreditation outside of Colorado.
CBA-CLE is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, and employment. To request an accommodation please contact [email protected] at least 14 business days in advance.
Day 1 - Monday, July 20, 2026
Foundations of Mediation
Training Time: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
8:30 AM – 10:00 AM
Welcome & Training Overview
Objectives
• Introductions
• Establish course expectations and co-creation of working norms
• Present Stress Continuum Scale
• Provide overview of the 40-hour program
Action Items
• Trainer introduction and background and score on stress continuum scale
• Participant introductions (name, role, reason(s) for taking mediation training and where they are on the stress continuum)
• Review agenda for the week
Brass Tacks
• Mediation rooted in Mediator neutrality
• Mediation Training is interactive and skill-based
• Emphasis on practice and feedback
10:00 AM – 10:15 AM
Break
10:15 AM – 11:30 AM
What is Mediation?
Objectives
• Identify distinguishing characteristics of various types of mediation
• Recognize mediation as a dispute resolution process
• Review similarities and differences of mediation from other processes and roles (arbitration, early neutral evaluation, special master, mediation-arbitration, judicial officers, settlement conferences, parenting coordinator and decision makers)
• Grasp the concept of Co-Mediation
Action Items
• Discuss goals of mediation
• Discuss when mediation works best
• Discuss and share experiences with conflict resolution
Brass Tacks
• Recognize when to implement different mediation approaches
• Avoid dualistic thinking: “Mediation always looks like this, and it never looks like that”
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Lunch (on your own)
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
The Role of the Mediator
Objective
• Develop appreciation for what successful mediators do—and what they try to avoid
Action Items
• Discuss what neutrality means in practice
• Discuss situations that challenge mediator neutrality
Brass Tacks
• Embrace your role as Mediator and do not veer from that role
1:30 PM – 2:15 PM
Understanding Conflict
Objectives
• Explore how conflict develops and escalates
- Sources of conflict
- Interests and Positions
- Emotional drivers of disputes
- Power Imbalances
Action Items
• Identify Positions and Interests
• Discussion around whether a position and interest can overlap
2:15 PM – 2:30 PM
Break
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Communication Skills for Mediators
Objectives
• Understand and appreciate the importance of the following:
- Active listening
- Reflecting
- Summarizing
- Open-ended questions
- Reframing
Action Items
• Model effective vs ineffective Mediator communication
3:30 PM – 3:45 PM
Break
3:45 PM – 4:30 PM
Stages of the Mediation Process
Stages of Mediation
1. Preparation
2. Opening statements
3. Issue identification
4. Exploration of interests
5. Generating options
6. Negotiation
7. Using Caucus Sessions
8. Agreement
Action Items
• Discuss example case step-by-step
• Discuss common challenges in each stage
Brass Tacks
• Implementing a framework keeps the Mediation on track
4:30 PM
Adjourn
Day 2 - Tuesday, July 21, 2026
Ethical Considerations, Emotional Considerations, and Roleplay
Training Time: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
8:30 AM – 10:00 AM
Day 1 Overview, Questions, and Mediator Opening Statements
Objectives
• Icebreaker and stress continuum check-in
• Clarify any information from Day 1
• Explore the importance of opening statements
Action Items
• Draft opening statements
Brass Tacks
• Opening statements frame the day, and parties are anxious to share their story. Wisely make use of an opening statement because it is extremely important, and also limit the time doing it.
10:00 AM – 10:15 AM
Break
10:15 AM – 11:45 AM
Mediation Ethics
Objectives
• Differentiate between subpar behavior and unethical behavior
Action Items
• Discuss:
- Limits of confidentiality
- Challenges to Mediator impartiality
- Addressing unethical behavior by parties and/or attorneys and LLPs
- Recognizing conflicts of interest
- Distinguishing between “Good Faith” and “Bad Faith” Mediations
11:45 AM – 12:45 PM
Lunch (on your own)
12:45 PM – 2:15 PM
Handling Emotions in Mediation
Objectives
• Recognize and thoughtfully manage strong emotions in Mediation
• Understand the importance of the following:
- Emotional intelligence for Mediators
- Techniques to help calm escalated parties
- Distinguishing emotion from position
Action Items
• Demonstration: Mediator responds to angry or defensive parties
• Group discussion on emotional triggers
Brass Tacks
• Emotions are important pieces of information (data points)
• Impartiality requires acknowledgment without judgment—what does this mean?
2:15 PM – 2:30 PM
Break
2:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Mediation Coaches Introduction and Roleplay
Objectives
• Master the following during roleplay:
- Opening Statements
- Active Listening
- Identifying of Issues
- Reframing of Narrative
- Implement De-Escalatory Tactics
4:30 PM
Adjourn
Day 3 - Wednesday, July 22, 2026
Your Brain on Conflict, Power Imbalances, Bias, Roleplay
Training Time: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
8:30 AM – 10:15 AM
Debrief Day 2 Roleplay, Impact of Conflict on Your Brain
Objectives
• Icebreaker and stress continuum check-in
• Explore what worked well in roleplay and what did not
• Survey the impact of conflict on your brain
Action Items
• Complete a “Stress Test”
• Discuss your own relationship with conflict and deeply appreciate and understand the way your specific relationship with conflict may impact your Mediation approach
Takeaways
• Conflict is unavoidable and, as Mediator, how you interact with conflict is crucial
• Conflict does not necessarily equal violence
10:15 AM – 10:30 AM
Break
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Power Imbalances in Mediation
Objectives
• Identify power differences between parties
• Learn techniques for maintaining fairness in Mediation
Action Items
• Identify imbalance in disputes
• Brainstorm Mediator interventions
Brass Tacks
• Mediators cannot equalize power completely, but they can help balance mediation participation
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Lunch (on your own)
12:30 PM – 2:00 PM
Bias in Mediation
Objectives
• Recognize that bias is an inescapable part of the human condition
• Identify unconscious bias
Action Items
• Reflect on how one’s own bias may impact their role as mediator
Brass Tacks
• Awareness improves outcomes
• Awareness helps reduce misunderstanding and bias
2:00 PM – 2:15 PM
Break
2:15 PM – 5:00 PM (**Coaches to provide 15-minute break at a “natural” breakpoint during the role play**)
Extended Mediation Roleplay
5:00 PM
Adjourn
Day 4 - Monday, July 27, 2026
Writing Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), In-Person or Virtual Mediation, Attorneys and Licensed Legal Paraprofessionals (LLPs) Representing Parties During Mediation and Serving as Mediators
Training Time: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
8:30 AM – 9:15 AM
Debrief and Reflection of Day 3 Roleplay
• Ice breaker and stress continuum check-in
• What strategies worked best?
• What challenges arose?
• What would Mediators do differently next time?
9:15 AM – 10:45 AM
Writing Mediation Agreements
Objectives
• Learn to document clearly and effectively
• Understand timing of writing an MOU
Action Items
• Share template MOU
Brass Tacks
• Clear agreements help reduce future disputes
• Mediators do not necessarily have control over MOU
10:45 AM – 11:00 AM
Break
11:00 AM – 11:45 AM
In-Person or Virtual Mediations
Objectives
• Learn strengths and weaknesses of both approaches
• Discussion around structuring “Zoom” rooms
Brass Tacks
• Stay open to both approaches
11:45 AM – 12:45 PM
Lunch (on your own)
12:45 PM – 2:00 PM
Attorneys and LLPs
Objectives
• Explore the role of an attorney or LLP representing a party during the Mediation
• Explore the role of an attorney or LLP as Mediator
Action Items
• Discuss strengths and weaknesses of Attorneys and LLPs representing parties during Mediation
• Discuss strengths and weaknesses of Attorneys and LLPs serving as the mediator
2:00 – 2:15 PM
Break
2:15 PM – 5:00 PM (**Coaches to provide 15-minute break at a “natural” breakpoint during the role play**)
Extended Mediation Roleplay
5:00 PM
Adjourn
Day 5 - Tuesday, July 27, 2026
Screening and Safety in Mediation, Role Play, Establishing a Mediation Practice
Training Time: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
8:30 AM – 9:15 AM
Debrief and Reflection of Day 4 Roleplay
• What strategies worked best?
• What challenges arose?
• What would Mediators do differently next time?
9:15 AM – 10:30 AM
Screening and Safety in Mediation
Objectives
• Icebreaker and stress continuum check-in
• Identify situations where mediation may not be appropriate
Action Items
• Discuss situations where safety concerns occur during the Mediation
Brass Tacks
• Safety First…Always
10:30 AM – 10:45 AM
Break
10:45 AM – 12:00 PM
Roleplay
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Lunch (provided)
CBA-CLE can provide vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options if attendees note their dietary needs during registration
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Roleplay
3:00 PM – 3:15 PM
Break
3:15 PM – 4:45 PM
Starting a Mediation Practice
4:45 – 5:00 PM
Closing Remarks
Registration Fees
| Non Member | $1936.00 |
| CBA Member | $1836.00 |
| MAC Member | $1173.00 |
| CBA ADR Section Member | $1173.00 |
| PublicService/Gov't/Active Military/Non-Profit | $935.50 |
| PublicService/Gov't/Active Military/Non-Profit | $935.50 |
| Paralegal/LLP/Legal Support Staff | $930.50 |
| Paralegal/LLP/Legal Support Staff | $930.50 |
| CLE Elite/New Attorney Elite Pass Holder | $930.50 |
- General Credits: 40.00
- Ethics Credits: 1.80
- EDI Credits:
To join the CBA or add a Section to your membership click