Practicum Opportunities

The Mediation and Conflict Resolution Program actively engages mediation providers in the community in an effort to develop opportunities for its students. Students volunteer for several (4+) different weekday sessions of approximately four-six hours apiece; in return for the learner agreement to actively devote their best efforts to the provider, participants receive hands on mediation and conflict resolution training that actively reinforces the classroom training elsewhere in the program.

The 2 different practicum tracks (litigated case track and community mediation track) and their providers and a brief description of each follows:

Litigated cases track with the Los Angeles Superior Court:

“Going to court, commonly called ‘litigation,’ may decide the dispute, but the process can be time consuming, expensive and emotionally draining. Fees may escalate well beyond the original estimate, and the time it takes to reach a decision in our busy courts can be months or even years, sometimes putting all other plans on hold. Many times, relationships suffer from the pressure. In considering all these circumstances, exploring options other than litigation can be a worthwhile pursuit.

‘Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)’ is the term used to describe all the other options available for settling a dispute which once had to be settled in court. ADR processes such as arbitration, mediation and settlement conferences are less formal than court and provide opportunities for litigants to reach an agreement using a problem-solving approach rather than the more adversarial approach of litigation.” See www.lasuperiorcourt.org/civil

The Chatsworth courthouse of the Los Angeles Superior Court operates civil harassment mediations on Wednesday mornings; the downtown Los Angeles courthouse currently operates civil harassment mediations additionally on Friday mornings. Participants will be expected to be there from 8 a.m. to noon. Most of the 24 hours will be observation of litigated cases being mediated; however, students may have an opportunity to co-mediate subject to approval of the Court and our faculty.

To read the article on the mediation work Dr. Goetz, the academic lead for CSUN's Program in Mediation and Conflict Resolution, and CSUN students do in the practicum settings, see www.scmediation.org/article_detail.asp?ArticleID=80.

Community Mediation track with the Dispute Resolution Services (DRS):

“Dispute Resolution Services (DRS) empowers individuals and communities to effectively and constructively address conflicts through mediation, training, education and other problem-solving methods. A nonprofit affiliate of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, DRS is committed to promoting and providing accessible and effective conflict resolution services throughout Los Angeles County, and to fostering non-violent, peaceful resolutions to interpersonal and intergroup conflicts.” See www.lacba.org/showpage.cfm?pageid=23.

The Hollywood office provides community mediation services. Practicum participants will be working under the tutelage of Kathryn Turk, Community Coordinator. Assignments will typically involve the commitment of 6 hours a week over 4 consecutive weeks. Approximately 20 of the 24 hours will be devoted to developing intake and convening skills; the remaining hours will be spent (when possible) observing mediations.

Special note to practicum participants:

Participants must respect the rules and regulations of each individual provider without limitation, but particular emphasis needs to be placed on specific confidentiality and ethics guidelines. Should one of the providers recommend that the participant be rendered ineligible for practicum work in their setting due to a violation of any of the above, such participant may receive an incomplete for the course and be ineligible to receive their program certificate until such course is completed.

As with all professional work, participants should understand that sometimes mediation matters take longer than expected to resolve. Therefore, priority should be placed on completing the assignment rather than adherence to a specific ending time for the practicum session.

Practicum providers reserve the right to assess whether or not a participant is appropriate for their practicum experience. Therefore, there is a separate application process for each practicum provider which is the responsibility of the participant to complete but for which the Mediation and Conflict Resolution Program shall provide assistance. In rare instances, practicum providers may choose to terminate a participant’s participation in that specific practicum location/setting after the participant has commenced the practicum if they deem the fit between the agency’s needs and the participant are no longer appropriate. Should a practicum provider not accept the participant application, or terminate the participation after it has started, the Mediation and Conflict Resolution Program will make reasonable efforts to secure another practicum for the participant in the same cohort. However, if one cannot be secured in time to complete the program with the cohort, participants may receive an incomplete for the course and be ineligible to receive their program certificate until such course is completed.