Attorneys with civil mediation or trial experience are encouraged to apply to volunteer for the Summit County Common Pleas Court Settlement Week, scheduled for Oct. 19-23. The application deadline for volunteering is July 31.

Settlement Week is a court-managed program designed to resolve select cases within a brief timeframe through mediation. This approach complements the work of the court’s mediation program and has historically benefited Summit County. On average, half of the cases that have been referred to Settlement Week in Summit County Common Pleas Court are resolved by the week’s end. Attorneys help facilitate this process by serving as mediators, neutral persons not involved in the case who help participants resolve their differences in confidential discussions.

Experienced civil mediators and trial attorneys interested in volunteering as mediators for this in-person event are encouraged to submit the Settlement Week Volunteer Mediator Form by July 31. Volunteers who sign up after July 31 will be considered and assigned mediations on a case-by-case basis. The selected attorneys are offered free mediation training from the Supreme Court of Ohio prior to the October program and will receive three continuing legal education credits for the training. Efforts are made to match attorneys to cases associated with their areas of expertise.

Attorneys can also submit their own cases to be considered for mediation during Settlement Week by completing the Settlement Week Case Request Form by July 31. Requests received after July 31 will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Only cases pending in the general division of the Summit County Common Pleas Court will be eligible for mediation during Settlement Week.

To learn more about Settlement Week, contact DisputeResolution@sc.ohio.gov.