Festival of Listening - Listening to Trauma

This course was engaging, excellently delivered and thoroughly enjoyable! I would recommend this to lawyers and non-lawyers alike. The skills that you will learn on the course will be beneficial in various aspects of life, irrespective of whether or not you want to practise as a mediator afterwards!

Mass Ndow-Njie

Barrister, Government Legal Department

"An intensive, comprehensive and action packed course which allowed me to see beyond the theory to putting it into practice. It is one thing to read about a field of practice and quite another to try and do it yourself!"

Rachel Weston - Accredited Mediator Foundation Training Course

Broadcaster and singer

‘The Society of Mediators course will both change your life and the way you look at resolving any dispute in the future. I was already a convert to mediation, having been continually frustrated by the court process, in my practice as a solicitor. However, the course gave me a completely fresh outlook in the way to deal with mediation, and is designed to fast-track you to have the skills, you may have thought you had, but didn’t realise you need. The week is intense, but in a good way, and planned so that you often don’t really realise you are continually learning. (continues...)

Ben Tisdall

Mediator at Riviera Mediation - full time since 2023 Course

(... continued) There is a rich blend of tutors and facilitators, who have a very wide range of backgrounds. It may sound over the top, but by day one I was completely re-thinking the way I approached problems, and indeed the way I communicated with people. Whether you are a lawyer or not, this course has something to offer anyone who wants to resolve issues in any walk of life. I found my legal background, something of a disadvantage, as I had to be ‘untrained’ in lots of ways I approach disputes. Most importantly of all, I learnt to listen and not talk! To say it is ‘value for money’ is an understatement. I urge you to sign up. You will not regret it.’

Ben - Riviera Mediation

Ben Tisdall, former Solicitor - now full time mediator

"I cannot recall ever attending a training course, particularly one that lasts from 10am to gone 6pm for 5 consecutive days, where I have felt constantly engaged and enthused. All of the tutors have been superb and their passion and commitment to mediation is clear."

Jude Shepherd, Barrister

42 Bedford Row

"The course was better than I expected, the tutors were all fantastic. They taught us from beginner’s level and explained everything in an easy-to-understand way, which meant I didn’t feel like I was thrown in the deep end when I started mediating the case studies."

Ravinder Pooni, Team Leader

The Insolvency Service

"An excellent introduction to mediation and a great opportunity for personal development. I was pushed out of my comfort zone and challenged by an engaging and interesting faculty."

Jane Leitch, Consultant Ophthalmologist

Bupa

"Life changing."

Martin Bloom

CEO and Venture Capital Board Member

"A substantial, through and entertaining course... provided me with the important basics [and] broke down assumptions I had previously. The tutors were inspiring and kind and I really enjoyed the opportunity to learn with lovely new people from outside of my usual ‘tunnel’."

Catherine Rowlands, Barrister

Cornerstone Chambers

"The course provided a provided a comprehensive account of mediation and how it works. The tutors were very knowledgeable and clearly determined to ensure everyone on the course left with a good understanding of the subject."

Didi Olatunbosun, Law student

King's College London