What court-connected civil mediation services are available?
There are 36 circuit courts in Oregon. Not all courts offer court-connected civil mediation.
Approximately 23 courts offer small claims mediation, 16 courts offer landlord-tenant mediation, and a handful of courts provide another type of civil court-connected mediation.
What models do courts use for civil mediation services?
Courts that offer civil mediation may use several different service models:
- Some courts rely on volunteer mediators.
- Some courts rely on court staff who are qualified to mediate.
- Some courts partner with a local Dispute Resolution Center, which may use staff mediators, volunteer mediators, or both.
- Private mediators are generally not contracted for civil cases.
To learn which mediation services your court offers, visit your
local court's website and look for a document titled, “Option for Resolving Your Dispute: Mediation." This document explains the civil mediation services available, if any.
The minimum training and experience requirements for becoming a court-connected civil mediator are outlined in
Chapter 12 of the Uniform Trial Court Rules (UTCR), and include specific training, experience, and conduct requirements.
Below are resources to help prospective civil mediators meet the training requirements outlined in Chapter 12.070 of the Uniform Trial Court Rules.
Once prospective applicants complete the required trainings, they must obtain mediation experience as outlined in UTCR 12.060(2). Here are potential avenues to fulfill those experience requirements.
- If your court offers mediation, contact your local court or its contracted dispute resolution center (if applicable) to ask about opportunities to observe mediations and to mediate/co mediate cases under the supervision of a qualified general civil mediation supervisor (see UTCR 12.060(6)).
- If your court does not offer mediation or does not have anyone available to supervise your required experience hours, email the Statewide ADR Analyst for help connecting with an established mediation program.