ADR - Court Roster Mediator For Commercial Matters

The 8th Judicial District ADR Program is assembling a Court Roster of paid mediators in commercial matters pending before the Court.

Mediators will not be compensated for the first two (2) hours spent in ADR. Thereafter, mediators who are not employed by an agency having a contract with the Office of Court Administration will be paid at an hourly rate they have listed on the Court Roster for mediation work. Billable time will include actual time spent in mediation sessions and up to one-half hour of pre or post preparation time for each scheduled session. Compensation exceeding $1,500.00 is subject to prior court approval.

Mediators’ responsibilities may include:

• Coordinating with Court staff;
• Managing cases promptly and efficiently;
• Conducting mediation in accordance with the ABA, AAA and ACR Model Standards of Conduct for Mediators;
• Preparing mediation agreements and/or disposition forms in a format acceptable to the Court; and
• Mentoring apprentice and student mediators.

Requirements for court roster membership include completion of 40 hours of mediation training which includes at least 24 hours of training on mediation skills and techniques and at least 16 hours of additional training in the specific mediation techniques pertaining to the subject area of the types of cases. This training must be sponsored or recognized by the New York State Unified Court System’s Office of Alternative Dispute Resolution Programs or training that the Office of Court Administration’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Program deems to comport substantively with the curriculum guidelines promulgated by that office AND have extensive commercial litigation experience, commercial matter experience or serve or have recently served as in-house counsel.

Applicants must also document substantial recent experience mediating actual cases, preferably commercial matters. Substantial recent experience is defined by the applicable court.

Appointment to the Court Roster is at the discretion of the Administrative Judge of the Eighth Judicial District in consultation with the Coordinator of the Unified Court System’s Office of Alternative Dispute Resolution Programs. Admission will be competitive and will be based on each applicant’s training, experience, education, and availability to mediate. Applicants may be required to participate in an interview process before a review committee appointed by the Administrative Judge. Applicants may be requested to complete additional training or experiential requirements prior to admission to the roster if, in the opinion of the review committee, the applicant’s mediation training and experience does not fully prepare them for mediator status.

Pursuant to the Rules of the Chief Administrator of the Courts, 22NYCRR 146.3b, neutrals shall be redesignated to the court roster every two years. In determining whether to redesignate any neutral, the neutral must show proof of compliance with the requirement that they attend at least six (6) hours of additional approved training relevant to their respective practice areas every two years pursuant to 22 NYCRR 146.5. Mediators may also be removed from the panel at the discretion of the Administrative Judge in consultation with the Coordinator of the Unified Court System’s Office of Alternative Dispute Resolution Programs. Mediators may also be removed from the panel at the discretion of the Administrative Judge in consultation with the Coordinator of the Unified Court System’s Office of Alternative Dispute Resolution Programs.

 

APPLICATION FORM & INSTRUCTIONS

To be considered for the Eighth Judicial District Court Roster of Civil Mediators, please
apply online at the statewide Application for New Court Roster Mediators.

For questions contact:

Audrey Rose Herman, Esq.
8th Judicial District ADR Coordinator
25 Delaware Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14202
(716) 796-6142
arherman@nycourts.gov