"ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION" Training of Trainers (TOT) WORKSHOP

Pam Matthews, ADR expert and ABA Legal Specialist conducted a training of trainers workshop for the Arab Women's Legal Network (AWLN) on Alternative Dispute Resolution in May 2007, bringing together participants from Qatar, Iraq, Algeria, Egypt, Palestine, and Lebanon. The workshop was sponsored by the Minister of Justice and a reception was held for particpants at the Raddison Hotel in Amman.
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ABA -ADR Legal Specilaist host mediation training in Jordan led by Peter Robinson, Managing Director of the Straus Institute at Pepperdine University, School of Law.

Experts and local stakeholders have expressed considerable concern about Jordan's overburdened court system, citing decreased accessibility to justice and public dissatisfaction with the courts. The Rule of Law Initiative introduced court mediation as an alternative to Jordan’s lengthy, costly litigation process. Legislative amendment to Jordan’s Mediation Law, trainings, awareness sessions, and the development of materials (including public brochures, forms and a code of ethics for mediators) were part of the necessary preparation. The Amman Court of First Instance launched Jordan's first court mediation program on June 1, 2006. In remarks made during the launch ceremony, the Minister and Chief Justice indicated Jordan’s confidence in the project's ability to increase the efficiency of the court system and to serve as a model for the future expansion of judicial mediation throughout Jordan. Since the launch, over 300 cases have been referred to court mediation, including eviction, contracts, insurance and banking cases, with a settlement rate above 70%. Plans are being made to replicate court mediation across the Kingdom. In support of court mediation and private mediation, the Rule of Law Initiative has been working with attorneys and other professionals to build their mediation skills and to enhance the profession of mediation in Jordan.

CMRG President arranges study tour for delegation of Jordanian judges in the US as a part of her duties as ABA-ADR Legal Specialist/Expert.

Rule of Law Initiative Sponsors U.S. Study Tour for Jordanian Judges

Pam Matthews, CMRG president and ABA ADR Legal Specialist arranged the US tour for the delegation from June 19 to 28, 2007. Thirteen Jordanian judges, including the Secretary General, head of the Judicial Institute of Jordan and the two practicing mediation judges in Mediation court, traveled to the United States for a study tour focused on alternative dispute resolution. The tour began with an intensive four-day advanced interactive training in mediation, with three experienced U.S. mediators acting as instructors, at the well known Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at the Pepperdine University School of Law.

Following the training, the Jordanian judges visited a number of mediation programs, learning from and exchanging ideas with administrators and mediators. The judges visited the Los Angeles City Attorney’s (Community) Dispute Resolution Program, JAMS (a large private mediation firm), and the Superior Court of California Los Angeles County ADR office, where the judges observed a demonstration of the office’s computerized mediator database.

The judges also had the opportunity to observe two real mediation sessions conducted by California Academy of Mediation Professionals in the California Superior Court and to discuss the mediation process with the mediators as well as with Superior Court judges.

Pam Matthews uses her film background to direct and produce a 20-minute informational video on ADR for use in the Jordan courts.

Using only local talent, Ms. Matthews managed to produce and direct a local video on ADR. She used local DJ's to do voice-over narrations in Arabic and used local TV production crews to shoot the video at the Palace of Justice, in Amman, Jordan. Editing was done at a local production studio. Matthews states that it was very hard work, since there is no specific training required for job categories in film/video production, but she managed to do just fine with the help of local co-workers and translators. The video is now used throughout the kingdom in court mediation programs. The project was funded by USAID.

President will travel to Amman, Jordan

President selected as ADR legal specialist/expert for ABA - Rule of Law (ROLI) program.

Pam Matthews, a member of the American Bar Association and member of the Section of Dispute Resolution committee was recently selected as the candidate to join the ROLI staff in Amman, Jordan for 6 months. She will use her expertise to focus on the following areas: reducing the judicial case load, holding public awareness sessions for the Court-Pilot Program, develop information videos, conduct additional training for mediators and evaluate the effectiveness of the Court Mediation Program. Her duties will require her to provide on-going technical assistance and to develop a curriculum for mediation training in Jordan.

Matthews states “I am very excited about this opportunity; I have worked very hard the last five years to promote more educational training for mediators and neutrals in general. 40-hour programs are just not enough, especially when there are no volunteer or pro bono opportunities available in the courts or communities to better your skills.” “There is so much more to ADR than just the mediation process, education and public awareness are the key, when it comes to understanding what this process is all about.”

Matthews will provide administrative oversight of court related mediation programs and also use her expertise in establishing ADR capacity with private entities; training judges in mediation; training private sector professionals; creating and executing public awareness/education programs on ADR, while also creating public awareness/education materials on ADR.