Becoming a Neutral

How Do I Become a Mediator, Arbitrator or Early Neutral Evaluator for the Court?

The Office of Court ADR oversees and maintains seven statewide ADR rosters of individuals who are eligible to provide ADR services to parties in court cases.

The statewide ADR rosters are:

  • Small Claims Mediation Roster
  • Family Matters Mediation Roster
  • Forcible Entry and Detainer Mediation Roster
  • Land Use/Environmental/ Mediation Roster
  • General Civil Litigation Mediation Roster
  • Superior Court Mediation Roster
  • Superior Court Arbitration Roster
  • Superior Court Early Neutral Evaluation Roster

The rosters can found at this link: http://www.courts.state.me.us/maine_courts/adr/rosters.html

Neutrals must fulfill different requirements to serve on each of the rosters. The requirements are summarized below.

The Office of Court ADR receives applications from neutrals, and all rosters are open to new neutrals twice a year. All applications received will be kept on file and reviewed twice annually in January and July. Attendance at orientation sessions and criminal background checks are required.

View and download an ADR Roster application (PDF). You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view or print this application.

NOTE: To obtain an application for the Foreclosure Diversion Program, go to this link www.courts.state.me.us/maine_courts/fdp/index.html

Once accepted to a roster, neutrals must fulfill annual continuing education requirements to remain active on the roster.

Neutrals are asked to choose the courts they wish to serve but may not be assigned to all of the courts requested. (Neutrals are not assigned to any courts that they do not wish to serve.)

If you are selected as a mediator for domestic relations cases, you will be asked to provide a monthly schedule of dates on which you are available to take mediation assignments from the court clerk. The schedule of small claims mediation is set by the court, and mediators serve on a rotating basis. Mediation of land use, environmental, natural gas pipeline and general civil/commercial cases is scheduled individually in consultation with the mediator.

Family Matters Mediation Roster

A minimum of 100 hours of mediation training and experience, including:

  • At least 40 hours of mediation process training (8 hours in the last two years)
  • At least 20 hours of experience as a mediator
  • At least 10 hours of training or experience in domestic relations law
  • At least 8 hours of training related to domestic abuse issues

Small Claims Mediation Roster

A minimum of 50 hours of mediation training and experience, including:

  • At least 20 hours of mediation process training (15 hours in the last two years)
  • At least 15 hours of experience as a mediator
  • At least 3 hours of training or experience in consumer or debtor/creditor law

Forcible Entry and Detainer Mediation Roster

A minimum of 50 hours of mediation training and experience, including:

  • At least 20 hours of mediation process training (8 in the last two years)
  • At least 15 hours of experience as a mediator
  • At least 3 hours of training or experience in the substance of Maine landlord-tenant law

Environmental/Land Use/Natural Gas Pipeline Mediation Roster

A minimum of 110 hours of mediation training and experience, including:

  • At least 40 hours of mediation process training (15 hours in the last two years)
  • At least 20 hours of experience as a mediator, facilitator of multi-party contested issues
  • At least 20 hours of training or experience in a land use field

General Civil Mediation Roster

A minimum of 100 hours of mediation training and experience, including:

  • At least 40 hours of mediation process training (15 in the last two years)
  • At least 20 hours of experience as a mediator
  • At least 10 hours of training or experience in general civil law and court procedure

Superior Court Mediation Roster

A minimum of 100 hours of training and experience, including

  • At least 40 hours of mediation process training (at least 15 in the last two years)
  • At least 20 hours of experience as a mediator
  • At least 10 hours of training or experience in general civil law and court procedure

Superior Court Arbitration Roster

An applicant shall:

  • Be a lawyer for at least eight years (including at least the last three in the State of Maine) and have substantial recent experience in the subject matter of the type of case to be referred; OR
  • Have at least eight years of substantial recent experience (including at least the last three in the State of Maine) in the subject matter of the type of case to be referred (for instance, as a contractor for a contracting dispute, an accountant for a business dispute, or a doctor for a medical dispute); OR
  • Be a member of an arbitration panel of the American Arbitration Association or an equivalent organization for the type of case to be referred; and
    • Have completed at least 6 hours of training in the arbitration process
    • Have the ability to conduct an evidentiary hearing

Superior Court Early Neutral Evaluation Roster

An applicant shall:

  • Be a lawyer for at least eight years (at least the last three of which in the State of Maine) and have substantial recent experience in the subject matter of the type of case to be referred; OR
  • Have at least eight years of substantial recent experience (at least the last three of which in the State of Maine) in the subject matter of the type of case to be referred (for instance, as a contractor for a construction dispute, an accountant for a business dispute, or a doctor for a medical dispute); OR
  • Have served on the Volunteer Conference Neutral Roster in the four-county ADR Superior Court Pilot Project (1995-97)
  • Have the ability to conduct a case evaluation proceeding