Application information

We are no longer accepting applications for this course. If you are interested in applying for a future offering of the course please register for our Interested List . 

To apply please follow the instructions below.

Solicitors and Trainees

To pay online click on the 'Book Now' button. For all other methods of payment including, draft, cheque and EFT please see our methods of payment .

Other Professionals

We welcome applications for this course from suitably qualified professionals. Your application must be approved before you can formally register on the course. To apply please email the following documents to diplomateam@lawsociety.ie :

1. A completed application form (see below)
2. Your Curriculum Vitae
3. A short cover letter setting out your relevant experience

Please note, for non-members this course is subject to a supplemental fee of €300. No fees are required prior to approval.

Download

• Application form (word - for PC use)
• Application form (pdf - for handwritten use)
• Timetable
• Faculty booklet

Further information on this course including course structure, module scheme, faculty and workshop dates are set out below. Clicking on the links will bring you directly to that section or simply scroll through to read all the content. 

• Programme structure
• Modules
• Workshops
• Assessments
• Who should attend?
• CPD

Programme objectives

On completion of this training programme, participants will be able to: 

• Apply basic conflict theory to analyse disputes;
• Identify disputes that are suitable for mediation;
• Find and apply the law regulating the mediation process in Ireland;
• Describe the different styles of, and approaches to, mediation practice;
• Demonstrate the core competencies necessary for mediating a civil, commercial, or workplace dispute;
• Use mediation skills and tools with fluidity and proficiency;
• Manage themselves in the role of the mediator and respond to the inherent challenges of mediation process; and
• Identify the next steps to take if considering establishing a mediation practice.

Programme structure and approach to learning

The goal of this diploma is to provide an appreciation of the theoretical foundations of the mediation process and to equip participants with the necessary skills to successfully mediate disputes in a number of different settings. The course and the intensive interactive workshops are designed for those wishing to practice as trained mediators, and the diploma is accredited by the Mediators’ Institute of Ireland (MII), subject to successful completion of the assessment (see below).

The course design adopts a ‘flipped learning’ approach, whereby online lessons released in advance provide an in-depth review of the process of mediation and its increasing importance in the litigation landscape. We also examine the Mediation Act 2017, which entered into force in 2018, and its objective to promote mediation as a viable, effective, and efficient alternative to court proceedings, thereby reducing legal costs, speeding up the resolution of disputes, and relieving the stress involved in court proceedings. This course is designed therefore not only equip participants with the skills to act as a mediator, but also to consider fully how the practice of mediation will be affected by the new statutory framework.

Modules

The programme is based on the following module scheme and covers key themes as listed below:

Module 1: Mediation Theory

• Understanding conflict,
• Types of mediation,
• Approaches to mediation.

Module 2: Mediation regulation

• Legislation and court rules,
• The Mediation Act,
• The impact of regulation on practice.
  

Module 3: Mediation practice

• Ethics and moral principles,
• Rules of conduct,
• Suitability for mediation.

Module 4: Mediation contexts

• Family mediation,
• Workplace mediation,
• Commercial mediation,
• Other mediation pathways.

Mandatory onsite workshops

Live onsite interactive workshops are crucial to learning outcomes for the course.

Workshops will take place on Fridays and Saturdays as follows:

• Friday and Saturday 4 and 5 November 2022
• Friday and Saturday 18 and 19 November 2022
• Friday and Saturday 2 and 3 December 2022

MII Assessment days – Friday and Saturday 9 and 10 December 2022 

Online and face-to-face sessions will feature leading experts, including members of the legal and mediation profession. 

Assessments

Continuous assessment together with a final written assignment and practical role-play assessment.

Who should attend?

This course is suitable for the following:

• Solicitors, barristers, and trainees interested in the mediation process, or
• Suitably qualified non-legal professionals whose work requires them to engage in alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, whether that is in the workplace setting, family matters, or commercial disputes.

We welcome applications for this course from suitably qualified non-members. Please explain your interest and set out any relevant experience in a cover letter and a brief CV. Such applications are subject to a supplemental fee of €300.

Those who have successfully completed the Certificate in Mediator Training with the Law Society of Ireland will be entitled to a credit towards this course. 

MII accreditation

CPD

We have designed our courses to enable you to satisfy as much of your CPD requirement as possible. Time spent attending lectures and workshops in person or completing these via e-learning as part of your course can be claimed towards your annual CPD requirement. The number of hours of CPD that you may claim in relation to your diploma/certificate course will depend on the way in which you access each of the individual sessions. Please note that the limit for e-learning has been removed for the 2022 CPD cycle. For further information, visit the CPD scheme and download the CPD booklet.

The Diploma Centre team will host our annual CPD conference in November 2022. This complimentary event is a dedicated management and professional development skills and regulatory matters session. We will post an invitation on your Diploma Hub page later in the year. 

Contact

Megan Murphy Byrne, Solicitor, Course Leader: M.MurphyByrne@LawSociety.ie.

*Every effort has been made to ensure the information contained in these pages is accurate and up to date. However timetables and course content are subject to change and date and time changes may occur due to factors beyond our control.

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