Volunteering at Michigan Community Dispute Resolution Centers

/in /by

The State of Michigan has for many years been a leader in the use of conciliation, mediation, and other forms of voluntary dispute resolution as an alternative to the judicial process. Among the most important steps implemented by the state to support the use of ADR is the Michigan legislature’s creation of the Community Dispute Resolution Program (CDRP)[1], under which the state authorized the creation of not-for-profit Community Dispute Resolution Centers (CDRCs). There are currently sixteen Centers across Michigan. These CDRCs help resolve community disputes and provide timely and low-cost ADR services to litigants and others who may not otherwise be able to afford such services. The CDRCs are partially funded by the Michigan Supreme Court Administrative Office of Dispute Resolution and rely heavily on the support of hundreds of volunteer mediators and facilitators across the state. The CDRCs provide critical ADR support to all Michigan Courts, resulting in the resolution of thousands of cases and other pre-litigation disputes that would otherwise require time-consuming and expensive trials to be resolved.[2]

In addition to their role to assist Michigan Courts in the early resolution of cases, the CDRCs also provide outstanding opportunities for professional development and service by Michigan lawyers whose practices include private ADR services, or those who simply wish to learn more about ADR for the benefit of their clients. Among the reasons to consider volunteering at your local CDRC are the following:

  • Experience. Many Michigan lawyers who complete civil, domestic, or other mediation training programs required to serve as mediators find that once they are certified as a mediator it can be difficult to obtain mediation assignments from their local courts. This is often due to the lack of experience that newly trained mediators have in mediating actual cases.

    The CDRCs offer excellent opportunities for lawyers seeking to build their mediation resumes. With the increasing numbers of cases referred to the CDRCs by our Courts, the centers are always looking for qualified mediators to handle cases, most of which are mediated in a few hours or less.    
  • Mentoring. Similar to the practice of law, mentoring is an important part of becoming a skilled mediator. The CDRCs are well-equipped to mentor mediators who volunteer at the Centers. These opportunities may include observing other mediators, co-mediating cases with more experienced mediators, and training opportunities offered by the Centers for their volunteers.
  • Pro Bono Obligations. The Michigan State Bar policy on pro bono legal services strongly encourages Michigan lawyers to contribute a minimum of 30 hours of no fee or reduced fee legal services to needy members of their communities.[1] The CDRCs offer Michigan lawyers with many opportunities to fulfill their pro bono obligations, by serving as mediators or facilitators for the Centers, by working as members of their Centers’ Boards of Directors, or even by making financial donations to the Centers as qualified not-for-profit service providers.
  • Exposure to Courts. The substantial majority of cases mediated through the CDRCs are cases assigned by Courts in each of the Centers’ geographic territories. If you are looking for opportunities to be recognized as a skilled and effective mediator by the Courts in your area, volunteering as a mediator at your local CDRC is a terrific way to do so.
  • Skills Development. Volunteers at CDRCs can gain skills such as active listening, negotiation, and problem-solving. These skills not only benefit them in their personal lives but also enhance their law practices, making them valuable assets for use with clients and in their firms. Utilizing these skills, volunteers become adept at fostering positive relationships, promoting collaboration, and finding beneficial solutions to cases and other disputes in which their clients are involved, thus enhancing their overall effectiveness and success as lawyers.

Want to Learn More About Mediating at a Community Dispute Resolution Center?

To learn more about mediation, and ADR services offered by the CDRCs, check out the videos at https://www.courts.michigan.gov/administration/offices/office-of-dispute-resolution/ODR_videos/.

Interested in Volunteering?

Volunteering at your local CDRC is quick and easy. A list of the CDRCs, along with links to each of their websites, a list of counties served by each Center, and the names and contact information for the Directors of each Center is available at the Michigan Community Mediation Association website (https://www.michiganmediates.org/mediation-centers/). If you are interested, give your local Center a call or send an email – you will find your Center ready to answer any questions you have about volunteering, and ready to make you a part of its team!

[1] Community Dispute Resolution Act, MCL Section 691.1551, et. seq.

[2] See, for example, the 2023 Annual Report of the Community Dispute Resolution Program, available at https://www.courts.michigan.gov/49c1a9/siteassets/reports/odr/2023_cdrp_annual_report.pdf.

[3] See the State Bar of Michigan Voluntary Pro Bono Standard, available at https://www.michbar.org/programs/atj/voluntarystds.