TSC Rule 31 Mediator Certification Training

• December 7, 2021 - for review on January 18, 2022 
• March 1, 2022 - for review on April 19, 2022 
• June 7, 2022 - for review on July 19, 2022 
• August 30, 2022 – for review on October 18, 2022

NOTE: Submission is NOT complete and the ADRC cannot review until the blue "Send Application" button is clicked. Applicants will receive an auto generated confirmation email. If you do not receive the email, please contact AOC Staff below.  

Effective April 23, 2014, your application and fee must be received at the Administrative Office of the Courts, Nashville City Center, 511 Union Street, Nashville, TN 37219, by close of business at 4:30 PM on the application deadline date in order to be reviewed at the corresponding meeting date.  

Please read Rule 31, Section 14 carefully to learn about additional requirements. If you have questions regarding Rule 31, contact our team at adrregistration@tncourts.gov or call 615-741-2687. If you have any technical issues using the online application, contact Amy Park at amy.park@tncourts.gov or 615-741-2687. or 615-741-2687.

Once the required training is completed, please review and follow the AOC Access Management Portal Login Registration Process Instructions and the ADR Online Application Instructions. Then, visit the AOC Access Management Portal to register as an ADR User and fill out the online application. As of May 31, 2017, only online applications will be reviewed. ALL materials (including letters of reference, letters of good standing, training certificate, additional documents, etc.) must be submitted using the online application. No paper applications or materials will be accepted. If you submit a paper application, we will contact you to let you know that we will not process the paper application and will direct you to the online application.  

Please submit the application fee. You may pay online by following the instructions at the end of the online application. Alternatively, you may pay via check or money order made payable to the Administrative Office of the Courts and mailed to the following address received by the deadline listed below:

Tennessee Supreme Court

Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission

Nashville City Center, Suite 600

511 Union Street

Nashville, TN 37219  

PROVISIONS REGARDING QUALIFICATIONS AND TRAINING OF RULE 31 MEDIATORS  

Section 14. Rule 31 Mediators  

No person shall act as a Rule 31 Mediator without first being listed by the ADRC. To be listed, an applicant must:  

1) submit an application and pay application fees set by the ADRC;  

2) comply with the qualification and training requirements set forth in this section. All training must have been approved by the ADRC as set forth in subsection (f) and must have been completed within the six years immediately preceding the application seeking Rule 31 Mediator listing;  

3) certify in writing an intention to comply with the conditions and obligations imposed by Rule 31, including those requirements related to pro bono obligations;  

4) submit two character references evidencing good character and suitability for the practice of mediation;  

5) disclose convictions for any felony or for a misdemeanor involving violence, dishonesty or false statement if such conviction is ten years old or less as provided in Tennessee Rule of Evidence 609;  

6) If the applicant's profession requires licensing, the applicant shall also provide documentation that the applicant is in good standing or possesses a valid license with the Board or Agency charged with issuing licenses to practice in the applicant's profession. Failure to pay board or agency dues when there is no intent by the applicant to practice in the licensed occupation or profession in the jurisdiction of licensure shall not constitute a lack of good standing for purposes of Rule 31;  

7) If the applicant has held a professional standing which requires licensing, the applicant shall also provide documentation of the applicant’s complete disciplinary history including closed and open grievances for each license the applicant has held.  The applicant must not have a disciplinary history with the Board or Agency charged with issuing licenses to practice in any such profession that would demonstrate an unsuitability for the practice of mediation. If the applicant has been licensed at one time and is no longer licensed in his/her occupation or profession due to disciplinary reasons, the applicant will not be approved for listing and may reapply when his/her license has been restored.

(a) Rule 31 Mediators in General Civil Cases.  

(1) To be listed by the ADRC as a Rule 31 Mediator in general civil cases, one must also:  

(i) meet one of the following education/work experience requirements:  

         (A) have a graduate degree plus four years of full time work experience. Full time work 

               experience shall be defined as 35 hours or more of work per week.  

         (B) have a baccalaureate degree plus six years of full time work experience. Full time work 

               experience shall be defined as 35 hours or more of work per week.  and  

(ii) complete and provide proof of attendance of 40 hours of general mediation training which includes the curriculum components specified by the ADRC for Rule 31 Mediators in general civil cases.  

PROVISIONS REGARDING QUALIFICATIONS AND TRAINING OF RULE 31 MEDIATORS

Section 14. Rule 31 Mediators   

No person shall act as a Rule 31 Mediator without first being listed by the ADRC. To be listed, an applicant must:   

1) submit an application and pay application fees set by the ADRC;   

2) comply with the qualification and training requirements set forth in this section. All training must have been approved by the ADRC as set forth in subsection (f) and must have been completed within the six years immediately preceding the application seeking Rule 31 Mediator listing;   

3) certify in writing an intention to comply with the conditions and obligations imposed by Rule 31, including those requirements related to pro bono obligations;   

4) submit two character references evidencing good character and suitability for the practice of mediation;   

5) disclose convictions for any felony or for a misdemeanor involving violence, dishonesty or false statement if such conviction is ten years old or less as provided in Tennessee Rule of Evidence 609;   

6) If the applicant's profession requires licensing, the applicant shall also provide documentation that the applicant is in good standing or possesses a valid license with the Board or Agency charged with issuing licenses to practice in the applicant's profession. Failure to pay board or agency dues when there is no intent by the applicant to practice in the licensed occupation or profession in the jurisdiction of licensure shall not constitute a lack of good standing for purposes of Rule 31;   

7) If the applicant has held a professional standing which requires licensing, the applicant shall also provide documentation of the applicant’s complete disciplinary history including closed and open grievances for each license the applicant has held.  The applicant must not have a disciplinary history with the Board or Agency charged with issuing licenses to practice in any such profession that would demonstrate an unsuitability for the practice of mediation. If the applicant has been licensed at one time and is no longer licensed in his/her occupation or profession due to disciplinary reasons, the applicant will not be approved for listing and may reapply when his/her license has been restored.

(b) Rule 31 Mediators in Family Cases.  

(1) To be listed as a Rule 31 Mediator in family cases, one must also:  

(i) meet one of the following education/work experience requirements:  

          (A) have a baccalaureate degree with ten years full time work experience in psychiatry,    

                psychology, counseling, family mediation, social work, education, law, or accounting.  

                Full time work experience shall be defined as 35 hours or more of work per week.  

          (B) be a Certified Public Accountant and have four years of full time work experience in 

                psychiatry, psychology, counseling, social work, education, law, or accounting.  Full 

                time work experience shall be defined as 35 hours or more of work per week.  

          (C) have a graduate degree and have four years of full time work experience in psychiatry, 

                psychology, counseling, social work, education, law, or accounting. Full time work            

                experience shall be defined as 35 hours or more of work per week.  

(ii) complete and provide proof of attendance of 40 hours of training in family mediation which includes the curriculum components specified by the ADRC for Rule 31 Mediators in family cases and which also includes four hours of training in screening for and dealing with domestic violence in the mediation context; and  

(iii)  complete and provide proof of attendance of six additional hours of training in Tennessee family law and court procedure. It is provided, however, that the ADRC may approve fulfillment of this requirement for applicants who have substantially complied with completion of at least six hours of ADRC-approved training devoted to Tennessee family law and/or procedure within the three-year period immediately prior to the completion of the requirements of Section 14(c)(1)(i) through (xii) of this Rule.

Read Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31.

Helpful information, forms and other resources for TSC Rule 31 Mediators.