When:

Oct. 19-23, 2026 | 12:15 pm - 1:15 pm

Via Zoom Only

General Admission - 

• All 5 events - $90
• 4 events - $80
• 3 events - $60
• 2 events - $40
• 1 event - $20

Student and Master of Legal Studies Student - Free                

October 19

From Classroom to Caseload: What It Really Takes to Build a Mediation Career with Kristyn Carmichael

Most people who fall in love with mediation never figure out how to make a living at it. Drawing on more than a decade as a family mediator, attorney, and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, and on her work training new mediators as Training Director of the Lodestar Center, Kristyn Carmichael opens ADR Week with an honest look at the path from training to a working practice. She’ll cover the skills that separate competent mediators from trusted ones, how to choose and build a niche, why stacking credentials can set you apart, and the practical realities of finding clients and pricing services. Whether you’re a law student, an MLS student, or a practitioner thinking about a pivot, you’ll leave with a clear picture of where to start.

October 20

EDR Institute Mediation Model - New Way for AAA with Mark Lassiter

Mark Lassiter will introduce the EDR Institute Mediation Model and explore how this innovative approach offers a fresh framework for mediation within AAA matters. The presentation will highlight the model’s core principles, how it differs from more traditional mediation approaches, and practical ways mediators can use its structure to promote efficiency, meaningful dialogue, and effective resolution.

October 21

Neutrality and Mediation: Core Assumption or a Theoretical Illusion with  Debora Gama Lima

The talk will review the complex role of neutrality in conflict resolution, bridging theory and the reality of practice, and acknowledging that absolute neutrality is a myth, not only impossible to achieve but also having questionable consequences. I will share my own journey as I try to reimagine my mediator role, grounded in an understanding of human behavior, trust, transparency, and self-awareness. 

October 22

A Brave New World: Integrating AI into Mediation with Jim Melamed

Jim Melamed will review opportunities, risks and guidelines for using AI in mediation.  AI provides new and powerful opportunities for participant empowerment and optimized problem-solving. There are, however, also risks of bias, giving AI too much authority and inadvertently sharing personal identifying information.  In Melamed's view, "AI is now the air we breathe" and mediators are wise to fully consider the constructive use of AI and to also be aware of predictable risks.

October 23

Beyond the Complaint: Mediating Conflict Where People Still Have to Work Together with Eddie Genna

In most disputes, the parties walk away when it’s over. Workplace conflict is different: the people involved often share a hallway, a team, or a reporting line the next morning. Eddie Genna, who teaches Organizational and Workplace Dispute Resolution at ASU Law, closes out ADR Week with a look at what makes workplace mediation its own discipline. He’ll explore how power imbalances, organizational culture, and ongoing relationships shape the process, and when mediation, facilitation, or a broader conflict management system is the right tool. He’ll also offer practical strategies for helping coworkers, managers, and teams resolve conflict in a way that actually holds. This session will be valuable for HR professionals, employment attorneys, organizational leaders, and anyone who mediates disputes between people who aren’t going anywhere.