Becoming an ADR Intern
Interns working at the District Court of Maryland ADR Office have the opportunity to learn about court-related civil ADR Programs; ADR processes utilized in court-connected civil ADR programs; managing a volunteer roster of ADR professionals; and observe the perceptions, positions and expectations of litigants, attorneys, court staff, judges and ADR professionals during a civil case ADR proceeding.
Internship applicants may have the opportunity to conduct research and analyze collected information. They may assist in evaluating the pretrial or day of trial ADR programs. Qualified interns will also have the opportunity to observe mediation and settlement conference sessions, depending on the case load. Applications are accepted for winter, summer and fall internships.
THE DISTRICT COURT OF MARYLAND ADR OFFICE DOES NOT OFFER CRIMINAL MEDIATION INTERNSHIPS. ALL ADR INTERNSHIPS ARE WITH THE CIVIL DIVISION ADR PROGRAM.
Fall 2009
Application Deadline: Received by close of business, Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Interview Period: Monday, August 3, 2009 - Friday, August 15, 2009
Internship Orientation: Friday, August 21, 2009 (Attendance at orientation is mandatory to participate in the internship program)
Internship Term: Business Hours Only, Monday, August 31, 2009 - Friday, December 4, 2009
Intern Group Meeting Dates: To Be Determined (Attendance at intern group meetings is mandatory to participate in the internship program)
Spring 2010
Spring 2010 Internship Program: To be Determined
Internship Requirements
Internships are open to enrolled bachelor’s degree, graduate and law students. The Program Administration Support Position is open to associate’s and bachelor’s degree candidates as well. Internship opportunities are only available Monday through Friday between the business hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Interns must:
< Be self-motivated and able to operate independently with a minimum of direction;
< Demonstrate the maturity and flexibility needed to deal positively with a wide variety of people, including the general public;
< Have sound judgment;
< Present a professional appearance and a pleasant demeanor;
< Experience researching legal issues, including drafting legal memorandums and briefs;
< Possess excellent oral and written communication skills and be computer literate; and
< (For law school student applicants only) Completed at least one year of law school including the following courses: Civil Procedure, Contracts, Legal Research and Writing, and Torts.
Other skills which are recommended, depending on the project or program to which the intern is assigned include:
• Completion of 40-hour basic mediation training;
• Experience working with statistics and statistical software;
• Experience in a program evaluation position;
• Familiarity with the hierarchy of the Maryland Judiciary and the jurisdiction of the District Court;
• Proficient in legal terminology and appropriate citation formats;
• Course work in Alternative Dispute Resolution, Counseling and Negotiation, Evidence, Mediation, Conflict Negotiation, Professional Responsibility or Trial Planning and Advocacy. Earning Credit for Your Internship
While internships are unpaid, the program is evolving and provides a unique opportunity for creative and motivated individuals to work at the cutting edge of judicial change. Interns have the opportunity to meet and work with judges, court personnel, private and community ADR practitioners, and attorneys at one or more of the District Court of Maryland locations. The District Court of Maryland ADR Office will work to accommodate the hourly and credit needs of the academic externship program. An intern must provide a minimum of 8 hours a week (non-credit seeking) or a minimum of 16 hours a week (credit seeking) for a 12-week period. Interns will be scheduled according to their availability reconciled against the needs of the Court.
ADR Intern Positions
All ADR Interns will be assigned reading material to help enhance the intern’s understanding of mediation and other types of ADR. Reading material will be assigned weekly. All ADR interns are required to maintain an ADR Journal. The ADR journal shall include an entry after each reading assignment. The ADR Journal should prepare the intern for the individual or group reading debrief where interns are expected to discuss their interpretation of the reading and discuss how the assigned reading is related to their internship position.
Research and Writing
Research an assigned ADR-related topic and prepare written research paper.
Example Topics: Medical Malpractice ADR; Other Court-related ADR Programs; Ethics; How Other Jurisdictions Define Confidentiality; Enforcing Mediation Settlement Agreements; Partnerships with Community Mediation Centers; The Attorney-Mediator’s Role as a Neutral; Preparing Your Clients for Mediation; Standards of Conduct for ADR Professionals and Social Workers, Attorneys, Therapists, Psychologists, etc...; Why Mediators Need Malpractice Insurance; etc.... (mandatory component)
Program Analysis Support
Internship located in Annapolis ADR office. Travel to surrounding jurisdictions not required. All components are mandatory.
• Calculate ADR Program statistics and provide written report summarizing data.
• Assist in the preparation of quarterly ADR program reports.
• Code ADR Program data and enter into SPSS database.
• Present ADR Program statistics to ADR team members.
• Assist Coordinator of ADR Volunteers with refining data collections and evaluation instruments.
• Assist Coordinator of ADR Volunteers with researching and writing the Best Practices Manual for the Collection of Qualitative and Quantitative District Court ADR Program Data.
Pre-Trial ADR Program Support *
• Review cases prior to trial to determine if they are suitable candidates for mediation or settlement conferencing.
• Contact parties or their representatives to explain ADR process available pretrial and day of trial. If the parties agree, schedule the ADR session.
• Complete and maintain pretrial ADR program documentation.
• Manage the pretrial ADR process to ensure that cases are handled promptly and effectively.
• Observe mediation and settlement conferencing session scheduled by the intern.
• Make recommendations for improving the pre-trial ADR program.
Day of Trial ADR Program Support*
• Provide administrative support to the regional ADR coordinator
• Ensure that all ADR forms are available, completed, up-to-date. Collect forms, code for statistics and perform data entry.
• Review cases prior to trial to determine if they are suitable candidates for mediation or settlement conferencing. Flag appropriate cases for ADR. Distribute list of the flagged cases prior to the start of the docket to courtroom clerks and ADR practitioner.
• Observe mediations or settlement conferences conducted during the day of trial ADR program.
• Make recommendations for improving the day of trial ADR program.
* Pretrial and Day of Trial Support positions will be asked to travel to a variety of courthouse locations to provide the intern with an assortment of experiences. Dates and times of the observation locations will be subject to the availability of the intern and the ADR Program Schedule. After each session, the ADR intern will write a report including the nature of the dispute, the outcome, and the intern’s observations of the parties, the mediators and attorneys, if present. At the end of the internship the intern will be asked to call on her perceptions of ADR prior to the internship, and along with assigned readings must write about if or how the observations have changed her opinion and beliefs of alternative dispute resolution.
Program Evaluation Support
Internship located in Annapolis ADR Office. Requires travel to surrounding jurisdictions. All components are mandatory.
• Meet with program stakeholders (partners) to assess program.
• Work collaboratively with the Coordinator of ADR Volunteers and the Program Analysis Support intern.
• Administer survey and observe the program in operation.
• Compile survey responses, present to ADR staff and return to partners with follow-up questions.
• Finalize results in an Evaluation Report. Make recommendations for improvements or adjustments to the existing program. Prepare a timetable for implementation of recommendations.
Public Relations and Program Outreach
Internship located in Annapolis ADR office. Travel to surrounding jurisdictions not required. All components are mandatory.
• Assist to design, distribute and market public relations campaign.
• Prepare materials, agenda and speaking points for public awareness events.
• Contact law firms, bar associations, property management organizations, insurance companies, etc.... to promote the use of ADR in disputes, and offer town hall meetings and ADR awareness training.
• Assist the ADR Manager in the preparation of brochures, fliers, inserts, etc….materials to be distributed to the public, bar associations, court staff and judges.
• Prepare a database of contact information of those organizations, businesses and institutions contacted.
• Assist in the preparation of ADR press releases for ADR list serv..
• Assist ADR Manager by preparing curriculum and materials for ADR awareness training.
• Assist the ADR Manager in developing protocols and best practices manual for ADR public relations and outreach.
How to Apply?
1. Complete the ADR Internship Application. Prepare answers to questions E1-E3 on a separate sheet of paper.
2. Include your resume.
3. Include any training certificates, as indicated on the ADR Internship Application.
4. Prepare a cover letter, and;
5. Mail to:
District Court of Maryland, ADR Office
251 Rowe Boulevard, Suite 307, Annapolis, Maryland, 21401
Attn: Internship Program
Questions concerning the District Court of Maryland ADR Office Internship Program may be directed to the ADR Office at 410-260-1678.
Please note: A civil and criminal background check will be required of all applicants.
The District Court of Maryland is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, sexual orientation, national origin or disability.
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