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Looking to build experience and confidence or refresh your mediation skills? This is for you...
Mediation Practice Sessions and Business Support
Join a structured, small-group supervised practice programme designed for newly qualified mediators to build real experience, strengthen confidence, and develop professional judgement.
If you’ve qualified as a mediator but aren’t yet getting regular instructions, you are likely in Stage 2 of your mediation journey.
The Mediator Practice Pathway is a structured, provider-led programme designed specifically for Stage 2 mediators who need supervised practice, realistic feedback, and professional clarity to build confidence and experience after qualification.
The Mediator Practice Pathway is divided into two cycles. Cycle One focuses on refreshing key skills; and Cycle Two dives into more advanced techniques and skills practice.
What’s included in each cycle
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6-months of professional support
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3 half-day supervised practice sessions (live role-play mediation), providing 12 hours of supervised mediation practice
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2 one-hour DRA support sessions (profiles, experience-building, next steps)
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Small cohorts (typically 5–10 mediators)
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Experienced senior mediators facilitating practice (led by Lizanne Keenan)
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Structured feedback and reflective practice guidance
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Online delivery with dates set in advance
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121 coaching session with our experts
What each cycle gives you
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Regular, supervised opportunities to practise mediation
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Professional feedback grounded in real-world practice
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Increased confidence and stronger professional judgement
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Practical guidance on how to progress and hone your skills
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15 hours of CPD for mediation bodies such as the Civil Mediation Council or the College of Mediators
How the Mediator Practice Pathway works
This pathway provides a clear, supported route through Stage 2 of your mediator development.
You will:
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practise mediation regularly in a safe environment
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receive structured feedback grounded in real practice
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build confidence through repetition and reflection
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gain clarity about what to focus on next — and what can wait
There is no assessment, no accreditation, and no pressure to be “ready”.
The focus is on experience, confidence, and professional judgement.
Supervised practice that builds confidence properly
The supervised practice sessions are designed to help you:
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feel more comfortable holding the mediation process
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make clearer decisions about when to intervene — and when not to
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manage emotion and difficulty with greater calm
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trust your judgement rather than second-guessing yourself
Confidence is built inside the practice, not before it.
Light-touch support alongside practice
Alongside supervised practice, the Dispute Resolution Agency provides light-touch Stage 2 support to help you position yourself professionally while you build experience.
This includes guidance on:
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talking about your experience honestly and credibly
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writing professional profiles that reflect where you are now
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understanding what counts as experience at Stage 2
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deciding when to apply for opportunities — and when to wait
This support is practical, group-based, and realistic.
It is designed to help you move forward without pressure or dependency.
Sector exposure without early specialisation
You do not need to specialise at Stage 2.
The Mediator Practice Pathway supports mediators working towards:
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civil and commercial mediation
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workplace mediation
Role-play scenarios may vary, but the focus remains on transferable mediation skills, including:
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process management
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communication and listening
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neutrality and ethics
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managing emotion and impasse
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professional judgement
Specialisation can come later, once confidence and experience are established.
Who the Mediator Practice Pathway is for
This pathway is particularly suited to you if:
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you have qualified but are not yet getting regular work
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you want to practise without being assessed or judged
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you feel unsure what to focus on at this stage
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you want structured, realistic support
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you want to stay engaged with mediation rather than drifting
You do not need to feel confident before joining.
Programme Timings
Each cycle runs over six months and includes:
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Three Half-Day Supervised Practice Sessions
9:30am – 1:30pm (Online) -
Two Business Support Sessions
10:30am – 11:30am (Online)
All sessions are delivered live via Zoom in a small cohort (maximum 10 mediators).
You will actively participate in every session and rotate through mediator, party, and observer roles.
Upcoming Cycle Dates
Business Support
19 March, 10:30am – 11:30am
16 July, 10:30am – 11:30am
Supervised Practice Sessions
16 April, 9:30am – 1:30pm
21 May, 9:30am – 1:30pm
11 June, 9:30am – 1:30pm
Places are strictly limited to ensure quality supervision and meaningful participation.
how much does it cost?
The Mediator Practice Pathway is the best way to practice your basic mediation skills in a safe environment, build confidence, and gain feedback from seasoned practitioners.
Pay upfront
You can choose to pay the cost upfront, which is £390 (no VAT)
Pay in three instalments
You can choose to pay in three instalments of £130 (no VAT) per month.
This includes:
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12 hours of structured supervised practice
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Two business development sessions
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Small group format (maximum 10 mediators)
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Structured observation and feedback materials
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Ongoing support from the DRA team
For Civil Mediation Council Registered Mediators, the supervised practice hours may be recorded as CPD (subject to individual requirements).
Secure Your Place
Spaces are limited to 10 mediators per cohort.
Registration closes once the cohort is full.
PAY IN FULL
PAY IN INSTALMENTS
mediator pathway FAQs
Newly qualified and early-stage mediators at Stage 2 who are not yet receiving regular instructions and want to build experience and confidence through supervised practice.
No. The Mediator Practice Pathway is a practice pathway, not training. It focuses on live practice, reflection, and judgement — not teaching theory.
No. There is no assessment, pass/fail, accreditation, or formal sign-off. This is about development, not evaluation.
No. The pathway does not guarantee instructions or panel places. It supports you to build confidence, experience, and readiness for opportunities when they arise.
You take part in live role-play mediations in small groups, rotating roles and receiving structured feedback from experienced mediators.
No. This is a safe supervised practice environment. Uncertainty and mistakes are expected and supported.
Sessions are facilitated by experienced senior mediators. Their role is to support practice and reflection — not to assess or approve you.
No. The pathway focuses on transferable mediation skills. Sector-specific specialisation can come later.
Group-based guidance on professional profiles, experience-building, and next steps — designed to help you navigate Stage 2 with clarity.
No. Guidance and examples are provided, but not bespoke writing or editing.
The pathway runs in 6-month cycles, with the option to continue for further cycles if helpful.
Per cycle:
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3 half-day supervised practice sessions
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3 one-hour DRA Stage 2 support sessions
All sessions are online with dates provided in advance.
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Pricing is designed to be accessible for Stage 2 mediators. Full details are shared before you commit.
Attendance is encouraged, but missing a session does not exclude you from the pathway.
Yes. The Mediator Practice Pathway exists because Stage 2 confidence is built through practice, not before it.
Book your place by choosing one of the payment options and then we will send the joining instructions. When the cohort is full, we will ask you to join our waitlist for the next intake.