The Maryland Judiciary promotes and supports the use of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) to resolve many types of court cases. Mediators and other ADR practitioners may apply to practice on a circuit court roster, orphans’ court roster, or volunteer with the District Court.
On July 1, 2025, rule changes to Title 17 of the Maryland Rules revised the process for applying to circuit court and orphans’ court ADR rosters. Practitioners will now apply directly to MACRO through our online platform. MACRO will oversee the approval process for all circuit and orphans’ court ADR rosters.
More information about each roster, as well as the qualifications and responsibilities of serving as a court ADR practitioner, can be found below.
Mediating in the Circuit Courts
Many circuit courts in Maryland refer civil, non-domestic and family cases to mediators on a court-approved roster. Court-referred mediation in Maryland is governed by Title 17 of the Maryland Rules, individuals seeking designation as a court-approved mediator for civil, non-domestic cases must meet the following requirements under Maryland Rule 17-205(a):
- Be 21 years or older;
- Have completed at least 40-hours of basic mediation training;
- Have mediated or co-mediated at least two civil cases;
- Be familiar with the court rules, laws, and practices on mediation;
- Agree to follow the Maryland Standards of Conduct for Mediators;
- Complete 4 hours of continuing education each calendar year;
- Agree to court monitoring and case management plan compliance; and
- Accept a reasonable number of reduced-fee or pro bono referrals.
Mediators seeking to be on a child access (custody/visitation) court roster must meet the following requirements:
- Meet all general qualifications under Maryland Rule 17-205(a) as listed above;
- Complete 20 hours of training in a family mediation program that meets the requirements of Maryland Rule 9-205(c)(2); and
- Have co-mediated at least eight (8) hours of child access mediation with an individual approved on the child access statewide roster pursuant to Rule 17-207 (a)(5)(B), or, in addition to any observations during the family mediation program training, have observed at least eight (8) hours of child access mediation.
Mediators seeking to be on the mediator roster for property & financial issues in divorce must meet the following requirements:
- Meet all general qualifications under Maryland Rule 17-205(a) as listed above;
- Complete 20 hours of skill-based training in financial issues related to marriage;
- Mediate or co-mediate at least two cases involving marital financial matters.
Mediators in foreclosure proceedings* must meet the following requirements:
- Meet all basic qualifications under Rule 17-205(a) as listed above;
- Have knowledge through experience, training, and education on:
- Lien instruments
- Federal and Maryland foreclosure laws and procedures
- Real property and lending regulations
*These rules apply only to mediators designated by the court. Cases assigned by the Office of Administrative Hearings (under Rule 14-209.1) follow separate requirements.
If you would like to mediate in any or all these areas in the circuit courts, please complete the application in the link below.
Mediation in Complex Litigation
Maryland Rule 17-205(b) and (d) create specialty mediation rosters for mediators who wish to be assigned Business and Technology and Health Care Malpractice cases. Mediators applying to mediate in these cases must have additional training or experience in these respective fields.
Health Care Malpractice Mediation
To be designated as a Health Care Malpractice mediator under Maryland Rule 17-205(d), a mediator must:
- Meet all general qualifications under Maryland Rule 17-205(a);
- Have mediated or co-mediated in at least five non-domestic civil mediations in the two-year period preceding an application for approval, at least two of which are health care malpractice claims;
- Be knowledgeable about health care malpractice claims through experience, training, or education; and
- Agree to complete any continuing education training required by the court.
If you would like to mediate health care malpractice cases, please complete the application linked below.
Business and Technology Mediation
To be designated as a business and technology mediator under Maryland Rule 17-205(b), mediators must:
- Meet all general qualifications under Maryland Rule 17-205(a);
- Have mediated or co-mediated in at least five non-domestic civil mediations within the two-year period preceding an application for approval, at least two of which are conflicts assigned to the Business and Technology Case Management Program as described in Maryland Rule 16-308;
If you would like to mediate business & technology cases, please complete the application linked below.
Non-Mediation ADR Processes in the Circuit Courts
Circuit Court ADR Practitioners (Non-Mediation) may conduct settlement conferences, facilitations, early neutral evaluation, and other types of ADR. Non-mediation ADR processes in Maryland circuit courts are governed by Title 17 of the Maryland Rules.
To be designated as a Circuit Court ADR Practitioner (Non-Mediation) under Maryland Rule 17-206, a practitioner must:
- Abide by the Maryland Standards of Conduct for Arbitrators, Fact Finders, Neutral Evaluators, and Settlement Conference Practitioners
- Comply with the procedures and requirements prescribed in the court’s case management plan;
- Submit to periodic monitoring by a qualified person designated by the county administrative judge;
- Meet one of the following;
- Be a member in good standing of the Maryland bar and have at least five (5) years of experience as a judge or attorney actively practicing law, a law professor at a school approved by the ABA, a Federal or Administrative Law Judge, or
- Have the equivalent specialized knowledge of the issues that are in dispute
- Complete any training program required by the court;
- Provide to the parties any ADR evaluation forms and instructions prescribed by the court; and
- Upon request by the court, accept a reasonable number of referrals at a reduced fee or pro bono.
To apply to be included as a roster member for non-mediation ADR in the circuit courts, complete the application and submit it to the ADR program manager for the court(s) where you are applying.
ADR in the Orhpans' Courts
Some orphans’ courts may refer to cases to mediation or settlement conferences pursuant to Maryland Rule 17-602.
- Individuals seeking to be designated as an orphans’ court mediator must:
- Be 21 years or older;
- Have completed at least 40-hours of basic mediation training;
- Be familiar with the rules, statutes, and procedures governing wills, the administration of estates, the authority of orphans' courts and registers of wills, and the mediation program operated by the orphans' court;
- Be familiar with the court rules, laws, and practices on mediation;
- Abide by the Maryland Standards of Conduct for Mediators;
- Complete 4 hours of continuing education each calendar year;
- Agree to court monitoring and case management plan compliance; and
- Accept a reasonable number of reduced-fee or pro bono referrals.
Individuals seeking to be designated as an orphan’s court ADR practitioner must:
- Be a member in good standing of the Maryland Bar and have at least three years of experience in the active practice of law;
- Be familiar with the rules, statutes, and procedures governing wills, the administration of estates, the authority of Orphans’ Courts and registers of wills, and appropriate settlement conference procedures;
- Have conducted at least three settlement conferences as a judge, senior judge, or magistrate, or pursuant to a designation by a Maryland court; and
- Abide by the Maryland Standards of Conduct for Arbitrators, Fact Finders, Neutral Evaluators, and Settlement Conference Practitioners.
To apply to be an Orphans’ Court ADR Practitioner, complete the application linked below.
ADR in the District Court
ADR practitioners interested in volunteering with the District Court can do so as a day of trial mediator or a settlement conference attorney. For more information about practicing ADR in the District Court, visit the District Court ADR Office’s webpage.