Master Series presented by the Illinois State Bar Association
Live Webcast via Zoom
(A link to the Zoom classroom will be emailed to registrants.)
Each Monday from September 14, 2026 – December 14, 2026
4:00 - 7:15 p.m. each session
(Please Note: the last two sessions in this 13-part series will add an additional 30 minutes.)
40.0 hours MCLE credit, including 40.0* hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following categories:
- 39.5 Hours Professional, Civility, and Legal Ethics credit
- 0.50 Hours Diversity and Inclusion Credit
Transform the way you approach family conflict with this
Master Series program in Family & Divorce Mediation.
Mediation demands a mindset entirely different from traditional litigation – one that is rooted in collaboration, empathy, and durable resolution. This immersive 13‑week online program is designed for practitioners who want to confidently guide families through some of life’s most challenging transitions using a non‑adversarial, solution‑focused approach. Designed specifically for family and divorce cases, this training equips you with the full range of skills required to serve as a qualified family mediator in Illinois†. You’ll gain practical tools, legal insight, and psychological understanding to help parents, children, and families move forward with clarity and dignity.
What You’ll Master
- Conflict Resolution Skills. Build the communication and negotiation abilities that turn impasses into progress.
- Mediation Process, Skills, and Techniques. Learn what to expect throughout the mediation process while learning techniques that result in successful outcomes.
- Ethics and Professional Responsibility. Navigate the standards that protect clients and uphold the integrity of the profession.
- Family Law Essentials. Understand the legal landscape surrounding divorce, custody, and support.
- Property, Support, and Maintenance Mediation. Guide parties through financial and asset‑related decisions with confidence.
- Psychological Impact of Family Conflict. Recognize emotional dynamics affecting parents, children, and extended family.
- Child‑Focused Principles. Incorporate child development insights and best practices for involving children appropriately.
- Culture and Diversity Considerations. Address cultural influences that shape family expectations and conflict styles.
- Screening for Safety and Being. Identify and respond to domestic violence, child abuse, substance use, and mental health concerns.
Attendees will receive a copy of Family Mediation: Theory and Practice, 2nd Edition, 2015 by Jane C. Murphy and Robert Rubinson, which will be mailed to registrants prior to the program’s start date.
The program is taught by Case Ellis, Missy Greathouse, and Jerald Kessler – nationally recognized mediators, authors, educators, and full-time alternative dispute resolution practitioners.
Mr. Ellis has been a co-instructor of 40 hour training courses for mediators outside the USA with the head of International Training for ADRg, one of the UK’s largest ADR providers. He has taught a graduate course in Conflict Resolution at North Central College in Naperville, IL, and lectured at numerous seminars in the U.S. on various litigation and ADR matters. He has trained mediators in London, UK, Dublin, Ireland, Belfast, Northern Ireland, and Thessaloniki Greece, as well as throughout the Midwestern U.S., and lectured law students on mediation in the Italian cities of Milan, Turin, Modena, Florence, and Rome. He is a frequent lecturer and author of articles regarding ADR and Juries.
Ms. Greathouse serves as the Executive Director of Dispute Resolution Institute, Inc. and has played an integral role in the development, implementation, and administration of all mediation programs provided by DRI. She is very active in various organizations that focus on mediation and other alternative dispute resolution methods. Additionally, she serves on ISBA’s Steering Committee on Racial Inequality and teaches Mediation Skills and Alternative Dispute Resolution at Southern Illinois University School of Law.
Mr. Kessler has conducted over 2,500 mediation cases in the last 32 years. He provides advanced mediation trainings, a monthly case consultation group for other mediators, an internship for new mediators, and has presented at numerous local, state, and national mediation conferences. Mr. Kessler is an Advanced Practitioner Member of the Association for Conflict Resolution, a founding member and Advanced Practitioner Member of the Academy of Professional Family Mediators, founding treasurer of the Illinois Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, and is a past President of the Mediation Council of Illinois. Mr. Kessler was the Mediation Council of Illinois’ delegate to the national consortium which drafted the Model Standards of Divorce Mediation Practice adopted by the ABA, AFCC and ACR.
Program Speakers:
H. Case Ellis, Law Office of H. Case Ellis, Cary
Missy Greathouse, Dispute Resolution Institute, Inc., Glen Carbon
Jerald A. Kessler, Professional Mediation, Libertyville
Past Attendee Comments:
I can't say enough good things about both the class and our instructors. I would highly recommend this class to all would-be mediators. Karen Donnelly, Spring 2023
The course was excellent, informative, and the instructors were great. They made a wonderful team. Thank you for making this such a wonderful experience. Attendee, Spring 2023
This course is now a Circuit Court of Cook County Court-Approved Mediation Training Program for those seeking to become a Domestic Relations Division Court-Certified Mediator**
Program Schedule:
Session 1, September 14, 2026
This opening segment offers an introductory look at mediation training, the course materials, and speakers, and an overview of mediation.
Session 2, September 28, 2026
Gain a better understanding of conflict dynamics (including analysis, styles, and perceptions) and the mediation process/stages. This includes a personal conflict assessment and role play to understand the differences between arbitration and mediation.
Session 3, October 5, 2026
This session offers a continued look at the mediation process/stages, the mediator’s toolbox, and discussion of how to conduct an intake for family mediation cases, including how to manage caucuses during the mediation sessions. A role play focusing on negotiation will be utilized to prepare for the next session.
Session 4, October 12, 2026
This segment covers negotiation, the continued discussion of the stages of mediation, and mediator’s opening / orientation to the mediation session. Learn how to identity the issues and interests of the parties involved, as well as how to set the stage for the mediation, your opening statement, and more.
Session 5, October 19, 2026
This week will begin with a role play and exercise regarding the mediator’s opening, and how to work on setting the agenda of the mediation. The session continues with a discussion of family law, parenting plans, children’s issues, and Illinois law/rules regarding family mediation. A discussion on letting both parties describe their view of the problem is also included.
Session 6, October 26, 2026***
The session opens with a 30-minute look at the cultural and diversity impacts in mediation and how to address the challenges to best represent the varied clients’ interests and assure their access to justice. A full role play of a simplified allocation and parenting time case, including debriefing in small groups and the full class is included this week.
Session 7, November 2, 2026
This session discusses mediating property and financial issues, and includes a full role play of a simplified allocation and parenting time case, including debriefing in small groups and the full class.
Session 8, November 9, 2026
This session examines drafting mediation agreements – including confirming and finalizing agreements – and includes a full role play of a simplified allocation and parenting time case, including debriefing in small groups and the full class.
Session 9, November 16, 2026
Learn how to screen for and address domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, substance abuse, capacity issues, and mental health concerns with this informative presentation. Additionally, this session gives an overview of the psychological impact on the family and the issues and needs of children.
Session 10, November 23, 2026
This session consists of a full role play of a full allocation and parenting time case, including debriefing in small groups and the full class.
Session 11, November 30, 2065
This session includes a full role play of a full allocation and parenting time case involving domestic violence, including debriefing in small groups and the full class.
Session 12, December 7, 2026 (Please note the adjusted time on this session: 4:00-7:45 p.m.)
This session discusses the professional responsibilities of the mediator (both attorney-mediators and non-attorney-mediators) and includes a full role play of a full allocation and parenting time case involving financial and property issues, including debriefing in small groups and the full class.
Session 13, December 14, 2026 (Please note the adjusted time on this session: 4:00-7:45 p.m.)
This session wraps-up the training, including setting up and marketing your mediation practice, the logistics of running a mediation practice (engagement letters, agreements to mediate, screening, etc.), any issues that need further discussion, questions for the trainers, and to reflect on all that has been learned through this 13-week program.
*Professional Responsibility MCLE credit subject to approval
**Upon completion of the course, you may visit the court’s website for application details to be certified as a mediator in the Domestic Relations Division of the Cook County Court.
***This session includes 0.5 hours of Diversity and Inclusion MCLE credit
†Please check with your local circuit court to confirm this training will comply with the local rules.
For best practices, before attending the program using ISBA's Zoom platform, please visit our Technical Support page.
Program Information
- Fees:
- ISBA Member - $1,250
- Non-Member - $1,650
Cancellation Policy:
A full refund for the CLE registration is available up to 14 days prior to the program; however, the course book is non-refundable once the book has been mailed out to attendees 14 days prior to the program start date.
