ACADEMY OF MEDIATION TRAINING
Training Philosophy
Ms. Cole employs a training hypothesis that interactive participation ensures greater potential for learning and ownership of mediation best-practices. Role-play and interactive-dialogue develops active listening and creates appropriate and creative communication exchanges, with the trainer facilitating the process. Mediation courses are designed to provide information and activities with role-play scenarios created to the latest issues in Florida mediation as affected by the the growth of mediation globally. Lynn Cole adds her unique experiential perspectives of multi-culture, diversity, commercial and international mediation.
Types of Mediation Courses
The courses offered at the Academy are unique: they are designed to include perspectives on the exponentially growing aspects of international mediation. They also focus on the areas of mediation in which this global growth is most explosive: commercial and court-related mediation. The Academy does not offer basic mediation training for certification. Rather, the Academy's courses uniquely include not only relevant issues to mediators in Florida and the United States, but also international aspects and cultural diversity perspectives. All courses are imbued with information and experiences Ms. Cole has acquired in her international work.
In order to ensure extensive individual attention, class size will be limited in number and reservations granted on a first come, first served basis. Each class will be taught only twice a year on the east coast of Florida, once in the spring and once in the fall. Preparations are underway for courses to be taught on the Florida east coast in the Miami area. For a list and description of courses and course schedules, please click on "Course Descriptions".
The Trainer
For over 26 years, Lynn Cole managed a thriving and successful litigation practice in complex commercial and labor and employment cases. As a successful and av-rated trial attorney, she volunteered extensive time to assisting both state and federal courts in developing mediation as a dispute resolution tool. Through her volunteer work and use of mediation in her own litigations, she realized the power of mediation as not only a tool for avoiding the delay and costs of litigation, but also as a tool for personal empowerment of the disputants. She now applies her energies and life and legal experiences exclusively to mediation and arbitration. Mediation has captured her passion because of its potential power for transformation.
As a result, she has lived, worked and trained in various countries, focusing her skills on designing and implementing court-related mediation in developing rule- of-law countries. Her passion for designing mediation systems is matched by her zeal for teaching the power of mediation - that of empowering individuals to take ownership and control of disputes in their lives. She has developed that power in her mediation work in post-conflict and developing countries, where disputes and conflicts have been a way of life.
She has been selected as a member of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals ("NADN") and is internationally certified by the IMI ("International Mediation Institute"), located in The Hague. Her experience and qualifications have been recognized by various prestigious organizations in which she is invited to serve as a neutral: the Int'l Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution ("CPR"); WIPO ("World Intellectual Property Organization"), located in The Hague; AAA ("American Arbitration Association"); USCIB ("U. S. Council for International Business"); FINRA ("Financial Industry Regulatory Authority"; Resolute Systems, Inc., Panel of Neutrals, among others. Currently, she serves as the President of Mediators Beyond Borders International.
Throughout her years of teaching, training, lecturing and panel presenting, she constantly has been asked how others can work internationally. She has found that there are many who want to take their legal or mediation skills to other parts of the world. Many are simply altruistically motivated to help others through mediation. Others also are keenly interested in what is going on in mediation around the globe. In order to answer these questions and more, Ms. Cole finally brings her international knowledge and accumulated experience to the Academy of Mediation Training. Please refer to this page for Ms. Cole's full Curriculum Vitae.
Environment for Mediation Training
Mediation training at the Academy is completed in small, intimate groups, with extensive inter-group discussion and role-play. Classes are taught informally, in a quiet and lovely, private setting. Lunch is served on the grounds and refreshments always are in abundant supply.