40-Hour Mediation Training Programme

Highlights of the Programme

• Day 1: The inaugural ceremony was led by Prof. (Dr.) Queeny Pradhan (Dean, USLLS) and Prof. (Dr.) Vandana Singh, who emphasised the importance of equipping young legal minds with mediation skills. The day’s sessions introduced the philosophy, growth, and relevance of mediation in today’s world, setting a strong conceptual foundation for the training, including ADR mechanisms and Sec 89 CPC.
  
  
• Day 2: The second day immersed participants in the six stages of mediation, from the mediator’s opening statement to information gathering, agenda-setting, option generation, evaluation, and agreement. Through guided role plays, they practiced handling each stage, gaining insight into the roles of mediators, lawyers, and parties.
  
  
• Day 3: Participants explored advanced communication techniques such as active listening, paraphrasing, summarising, and questioning, along with the subtle art of reading body language. Tools like BATNA, WATNA and reality testing, while exercises in lateral thinking and mediation advocacy reinforced that effective mediation is about listening as much as guiding.
  
  
• Day 4: The emphasis turned to negotiation; the foundation of mediation. Participants distinguished between positional, distributive, interest-based, and integrative negotiation styles. Case scenarios and practice sessions encouraged participants to look beyond rigid positions, identify underlying interests, and develop solutions that were practical and acceptable to all parties involved.
  
  
• Day 5: The final day concentrated on handling impasses and drafting settlements. Participants explored the causes of deadlock, methods to restore trust, and the techniques to guide parties out of impasse. Ethical concerns in mediation were discussed, underscoring the mediator’s responsibility to maintain trust and impartiality. The programme concluded with the valedictory ceremony and certificate distribution, celebrating the learning journey of all participants.