Featured Event:

40-Hour Family Court Mediation Course

In West Virginia, mediation is required in custody cases when parents cannot agree on a parenting plan. Trained mediators play a critical role in helping families navigate these disputes while reducing litigation's stress, cost, and adversarial nature.

This West Virginia Supreme Court-approved training provides the necessary education and practical experience to qualify as a family court mediator. The program follows a hybrid format, combining weekly online sessions with a two-day, in-person program at Blackwater Falls State Park in beautiful Davis, West Virginia.

This program has been approved by the West Virginia State Bar for 45 CLE hours AND 3.6 ethics hours. Attorneys who complete this program will fully satisfy the continuing education requirements for 2024-2025!

Course Schedule

Live Online Sessions (6:00 - 9:00 p.m. ET via Zoom) beginning on August 7, 2025 and continuing weekly until September 11, 2025

In-Person Training at Blackwater Falls State Park, Davis, WV (September 17, 2025, 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m., September 18, 2025, 8:30 a.m. 5:00 p.m., September 19, 2025, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.)

Final Online Session (6:00-9:00 p.m. ET via Zoom ) September 27, 2025.

For a full outline of the schedule, click here.

What This Program Covers

Participants will gain hands-on experience in:

  • Mediation fundamentals and ethics

  • Custody and parenting agreements

  • Conflict resolution techniques

  • Addressing domestic violence in mediation

  • Court procedures and best practices

The course is designed and will be led by attorney-mediator Brenda Waugh. We have invited guest speakers, including family court judges, professional mediators, and child specialists. To review Brenda’s CV click here.

We will be seeking continuing legal education credits for the program.

This program fulfills the full educational requirement for certification in West Virginia. Before being eligible to receive court appointments, participants will be required to complete all other requirements.

Tuition & Payment

  • Early Bird Rate: $600.00 (Register by July 10, 2025)

  • Regular Registration: $850.00 (Register by July 15, 2025)

  • Deposit: $150.00 due at registration will be applied to the registration fee. (non-refundable)

  • Remaining Balance: Due July 20, 2025.

The tuition covers all training sessions, course materials, and certification upon completion. Tuition does not include any lodging, meals, or travel.

Who Should Enroll?

This training is ideal for:

  • Family lawyers seeking to expand their practice into mediation

  • Civil Mediators who want to improve their skills

  • Social workers and counselors working with families

  • Professionals interested in alternative dispute resolution

    • West Virginia lawyers seeking continuing education credits

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      Other Upcoming Events

  • Brenda will examine the “money myth” about mediation, and how sometimes the dispute may be about more than just money, with the West Virginia Bar Association at their lunch and learn program on July 22, 2025.

  • In anticipation of the publication of Brenda’s book, Becoming a Restorative Lawyer: How to Transform Your Legal Practice for Self, Client, and Community Growth, several events have been scheduled. She will be presenting on this topic at the Virginia Mediation Network conference on October 3-4, 2025, in Richmond, Virginia.

  • Coming June 18, 2026. We are in the planning process for Rooted Practice: A Path to Becoming a Restorative Lawyer. We will assemble a small, purpose-driven group of just 15 legal professionals for an immersive 3-day retreat designed to radically reimagine the practice of law—from one rooted in conflict to one grounded in healing. Held in the serene, forested beauty of Elk River Inn & Cabins in Slatyfork, West Virginia, this all-inclusive experience will over 20 hours of continuing legal education (CLE) while creating space for deep reflection, practical training, and community building. This retreat is for lawyers ready to shift from burnout and adversarial norms toward a restorative approach that centers justice, connection, and well-being. Through workshops, guided discussion, movement, and nature-based integration, you'll leave with both the mindset and tools to lead systemic change—starting with your own practice. The program will also include two short online segments-both before and after the retreat.