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Cobb Mediation, LLC is now The Center for Legal Solutions, Inc. More information We will be closed on November 27, 28, December 25, 26 for the holidays. We are proud to introduce Christopher Annunziata as the newest member of our Panel of Neutrals. Mr. Annunziata (A-nun-zi-ata) is an attorney who litigated commercial, employment, insurance coverage and corporate matters at a major international law firm prior to opening a full time mediation and arbitration practice. See our latest findings: Empirical Analysis of Mediation Comments are welcome. The Historic Anderson Mansion will be a featured destination on this year's Marietta Pilgrimmage Christmas Home Tour and will be the site of this year’s Marietta Olde Marietta Tearoom. Visit us Saturday, December 6th and Sunday, December 7th from 10 am to 4 pm. We recently hosted a special event for Marietta's Strand Theater. Attendees were treated to a preview of the restored Strand Theater and an opportunity to buy season tickets before they went on sale to the general public. See photographs of Strand Event. The Center for Legal Solutions Director Barry Edwards' Article on Comprehensive Arbitration of Domestic Relations Cases in Georgia appears in the latest issue of the Georgia Bar Journal. These web sites offer more information about mediation: Center for Negotiation and Conflict Resolution: At Rutgers University. Negotiation Journal: From Harvard Law School More ADR links

About the Author: This research report on Opportunities in the ADR Field in Georgia was compiled by Jennifer Matte. Ms. Matte is Vermont Law School graduate. During law school, she completed an externship with the Consortium for Negotiation and Conflict Resolution. Her work with The Center for Legal Solutions, Inc. has primarily focused on the emergence of specializations within the ADR community. Questions and comments regarding this research may be directed to jmatte@vermontlaw.edu. See State and Local Requirements for: General Civil Mediation Domestic Relations Mediation Arbitration Early Neutral / Case Evaluation Continuing Requirements Opportunities with the Cobb County Magistrate Court Cobb Magistrate Court implemented a volunteer mediation program for small claims cases. The Program is funded and was developed with aid from the GA Commission on Dispute Resolution Mediator facilitates discussion between the parties in an attempt to reach settlement before the case goes to trial, if the case does not reach settlement then it will be heard by a magistrate judge Who administers the program? Who is the director and what is their title? Anne Urick: program director at Cobb County Magistrate Court Who performs the mediation? How is this determined? Mediators are volunteers and are kept on a roster by the program directors What are the requirements for training in order to mediate these disputes? How much experience is suggested or required? More than 98 mediators have satisfied the training requirements and have volunteered with the mediation program What is the pay rate for a mediator of this type? How is payment structured? The mediators volunteer their time, therefore the parties pay no additional cost to participate in the mediation program Program is funded by an initial grant from the GA Commission on Alternative Dispute Resolution Magistrate Court and Superior Court have implemented the collection of filing fees for access to mediation programs Filing fees cover all costs of the Volunteer Mediation Program and have grown in a County General Fund What is the typical volume of cases mediated? Program has mediated over 600 cases with a 68% settlement rate Additional Information on State Requirements: Georgia Supreme Court ADR Rules, Appendix B: Requirements for Training and Qualification of Neutrals Ethics Information from the Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Neutral Registration: From the GCDR State Approved Training Programs: Indexed by Type of Training Additional Information on Local Requirements: Clayton Judicial Circuit ADR Rules: See Rule 6: Qualification of Neutrals Cobb County Superior Court Mediation Program: Mediator Qualifications for Certification Cobb County Superior Court Mediation Program: Case Evaluator Qualifications Dekalb County Dispute Resolution Program Policies and Procedure Gwinnett ADR Program Internal Operating Procedures See Rule 1.5: Neutral Qualifications 6th JAD ADR Program Rules and Procedures: See Rule 9: Neutral Qualifications 7th Judicial Administrative District: Mediator Qualifications 9th Judicial Administrative District ADR Rules See Rule 5: Neutral Qualifications for Service in the Program

The Center for Legal Solutions, Inc. 65 Whitlock Avenue Marietta, Georgia 30064 Phone: 770-693-3470   Fax: 770-419-4464