Mediation training is free for most BHBA members, public interest lawyers, or those who commit to volunteering with BHBA’s Mandatory Fee Arbitration Program or Resolve Law LA.

If you’ve been following along over the past few months, you know that BHBA is now approved to offer CLE in 46 states, launched 25 additional practice area sections (bringing BHBA to a total of 45 sections), and introduced The Modern Lawyer, a dynamic, real-time publication tailored to the needs of today’s legal professionals.

Before my term as president ends at midnight on September 30, and I leave you in the capable hands of my successor and the next BHBA president, Nadira T. Imam, there’s one last thing I’d like to share.

It’s something we’ve been working on that I believe will have a lasting impact: BHBA’s Mediation Training Course. As a litigator, I know well the benefits of mediation and how key a well-trained mediator is to success. Through conversations with many in our local legal community, BHBA identified gaps in access to mediation—specifically, a cost-effective training program that attorneys can fit into their busy schedules, and a shortage of volunteers for local pro bono and ‘low bono’ mediation programs.

We are delighted to launch our Mediator Training Course to meet these needs.

This isn’t just another program; it’s designed to transform how mediation training is done. You start by watching a core group of programs and participating in four hands-on practical sessions via Zoom, totaling 25 hours—enough to meet DRPA (Dispute Resolution Programs Act) and local court requirements. Then, personalize your training with one of three specialized 15-hour elective tracks—employment law, general, or family law—adding expertise in the areas that matter most to your practice.

BHBA’s Mediation training is free for most members, public interest lawyers, or those who commit to volunteering with BHBA’s Mandatory Fee Arbitration Program or Resolve Law LA.

The training is hosted on BHBA+, a custom-built online CLE platform that tracks viewing and automatically issues certificates based on attendance. The platform also features a user-friendly dashboard customized for the mediation training, allowing for easy progress tracking, similar to regular CLE compliance.

None of this would be possible without the generosity of our incredible faculty. I encourage you to visit the mediation training website to see the full roster. Each instructor has generously taken time from their busy schedules to create the best curriculum and training materials available, ensuring that we launch an outstanding course. For that, we are forever grateful.

I’m excited for what’s next. The future is bright, and this is just the beginning.