Mediation Clinic
The Mediation Clinic, directed by Professor Donna Erez-Navot, provides students with the opportunity to build practical skills and gain real-world experience in mediation. The semester begins with intensive Florida Supreme Court County Mediation Training, after which students participate in a structured mentorship program mediating actual cases, both online and in person, in the 3rd, 5th, and 8th Judicial Circuits. Through this hands-on work, students serve as co-mediators in small claims matters, including landlord-tenant disputes, auto accidents, insurance claims, credit card debt, and neighborhood conflicts. Students who complete all prerequisites may also qualify to become certified Florida Supreme Court County Mediators. Students also have the unique opportunity to mediate federal employment discrimination cases referred by EEOC Administrative Judge, William Macauley from the New York Region. In addition to practice, students engage with the academic literature on negotiation, mediation, and alternative dispute resolution, grounding their practical experiences in theory.
Director
Student Experience
“Being part of the mediation clinic helped prepare me to be a strong negotiator and collaborate with attorneys to find client solutions. My county mediator certification earned me a pro bono award at graduation and recognition from the Brown Center for Leadership and Service. The mediation clinic was a meaningful and valuable educational experience for me and my classmates.”
— Sydney Moran (JD 25)
“The Mediation Clinic gives students practical experience in resolving conflict, an often-overlooked skill in law school. These skills are transferable to mediation and arbitration advocacy, negotiation, judicial positions, and even the day-to-day disputes that most attorneys face. The skills I obtained from the Mediation Clinic have helped me evaluate issues objectively and were viewed very positively in my judicial and litigation-related job interviews.”
— Kaysha Kapadia (2026 – expected graduate)
Community Impact
Number of cases mediated by semester
| Semester | Small Claims Cases | EEOC Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2022 | 31 | 4 |
| Spring 2023 | 32 (8 reached agreement) | 4 |
| Fall 2023 | 32 (14 reached agreement) | 4 |
| Spring 2024 | 32 (14 reached agreement) | 4 |
| Fall 2024 | 42 (28 reached agreement) | 4 |
| Spring 2025 | 77 (33 reached agreement) | 4 |
Pictured from left to right, front row: Professor Stacey Steinberg, Lauren Sellers, Kimberly Kosch (Florida Supreme Court), Professor Donna Erez-Navot, Skyler Hillary, Danielle Arnwine.
Pictured from left to right, back row: Claire Wubben, Jacob Orlick, Kenneth Butler, Brandon Abzug, Kaysha Kapadia.