Course Credit: 2 CME – Ethics

Course Duration: 120 Minutes

Delivery Method: On-Demand / Recorded

Provider: ADR Academy

Target Audience: Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit and County Mediators

Course Description

This course provides a comprehensive ethics update for Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit and County Mediators. Participants will review ethical responsibilities under the Florida Rules for Certified and Court-Appointed Mediators, confidentiality requirements under Florida Statutes, conflict-of-interest disclosure obligations, neutrality requirements, and professional competence standards.

This course also incorporates current ethics guidance from the Florida Mediator Ethics Advisory Committee (MEAC) and disciplinary authority exercised by the Mediator Qualification and Disciplinary Review Board and Florida Supreme Court.

Participants will examine real-world ethical scenarios, disciplinary examples, and ethical decision-making frameworks to ensure compliance with Florida mediator certification standards.

This course satisfies the Florida mediator ethics CME renewal requirement.

Course Purpose

The purpose of this course is to ensure Florida mediators maintain ethical competence, understand current certification and ethical requirements, and avoid conduct that may result in disciplinary action, suspension, or decertification.

This course reinforces mediator professionalism, neutrality, confidentiality, and ethical decision-making.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Identify ethical obligations under the Florida Rules for Certified and Court-Appointed Mediators
2. Apply confidentiality requirements under Florida mediation law
3. Recognize and properly disclose conflicts of interest
4. Maintain mediator neutrality and impartiality
5. Apply guidance from Mediator Ethics Advisory Committee (MEAC) opinions
6. Identify conduct that may result in disciplinary action
7. Apply ethical decision-making principles to real mediation scenarios
8. Maintain compliance with Florida Supreme Court certification requirements

Governing Authority and Ethical Framework

This course is based on:

• Florida Rules for Certified and Court-Appointed Mediators (Rules 10.100–10.900)

• Florida Statutes §§44.401–44.406 (Mediation Confidentiality and Privilege Act)

• Florida Dispute Resolution Center mediator certification requirements

• Mediator Ethics Advisory Committee (MEAC) opinions

• Mediator Qualification and Disciplinary Review Board authority

• Florida Supreme Court disciplinary enforcement authority

Course Outline and Timed Agenda

Module 1: Overview of Florida Mediator Ethical Framework

Time: 15 Minutes

Topics Covered

• Authority of Florida Supreme Court

• Role of Dispute Resolution Center

• Mediator Qualification and Disciplinary Review Board

• Mediator Ethics Advisory Committee (MEAC)

• Purpose of mediator ethical rules

Key Concepts

Mediator certification is regulated and discipline may be imposed for violations.

Module 2: Self-Determination and Mediator Neutrality

Time: 20 Minutes

Topics Covered

• Rule 10.310 – Self-Determination

• Rule 10.330 – Impartiality

• Maintaining neutrality

• Avoiding coercion

• Avoiding bias

Real-World Applications

Mediator must facilitate—not decide—settlement.

Module 3: Conflicts of Interest and Disclosure

Time: 20 Minutes

Topics Covered

• Rule 10.340 – Conflict of Interest

• Disclosure requirements

• Prior relationships

• Financial conflicts

• Appearance of impropriety

MEAC Guidance

MEAC opinions require disclosure when impartiality could be questioned.

Module 4: Confidentiality and Privilege in Mediation

Time: 20 Minutes

Topics Covered

• Rule 10.360 – Confidentiality

• Florida Statutes §44.405

• Caucus confidentiality

• Virtual mediation confidentiality

• Exceptions to confidentiality

Practical Applications

Mediator must protect all confidential communications.

Module 5: Professional Competence and Ethical Conduct

Time: 15 Minutes

Topics Covered

• Rule 10.370 – Professional Competence

• Maintaining mediator competence

• Avoiding improper conduct

• Maintaining professional boundaries

Module 6: Mediator Discipline and Enforcement

Time: 15 Minutes

Topics Covered

• Role of Mediator Qualification and Disciplinary Review Board

• Complaint investigation process

• Types of discipline imposed

Possible Sanctions

• Reprimand

• Suspension

• Decertification

Module 7: MEAC Ethics Advisory Guidance and Real-World Applications

Time: 10 Minutes

Topics Covered

• Role of MEAC opinions

• Ethics guidance examples

• Common mediator ethical mistakes

Module 8: Ethical Decision-Making Framework and Risk Prevention

Time: 5 Minutes

Topics Covered

• Ethical decision-making framework

• Avoiding disciplinary risk

• Maintaining ethical compliance

Instructional Methods

This course includes:

• Video lecture instruction

• Scenario-based ethics examples

• Case studies

• Ethical analysis

• Practical application