Dr Treasa Kenny worked with Maynooth University PhD alumnus, Rebecca Murphy, in the Chief Justice's Office to design the first ever ADR module as part of the annual summer school. The summer school takes place during June 2023 when 30 law graduates from Ireland, Northern Ireland, France/Wales and the US shadow a Judge and attend talks and workshops. The first ADR session took place on 12 June and was a general introduction/recap of mediation focusing on the use process and outcomes. We used a restorative approach to build community amongst the group and included a reflective learning journal. In addition to talking with the Judge they are shadowing about their opinion on and experience of mediation use, process and outcomes, the summer school participants engage in two other full day sessions. These are:
On Friday, 16 June 2023 the participants will work with Fiona McAuslan, Director of Family Mediation, Legal Aid Board to focus on how to work with people in conflict (SALT) and how to connect to people (Diamond Model). The session includes role play scenarios where the participants develop their mediation and conflict intervention skills through practice.
On Friday, 23 June 2023 the participants will work with Andrea O'Neill and Noreen Fitzpatrick both of whom are Maynooth University alumni in mediation and restorative practices. As mediators experienced in working with the Irish Red Cross Refugee Programme, the Cervical Check Restoration of Trust Meetings and complex societal conflict, they will interactively work with the participants to understand the elements in trust-building through case study development and conversation. This session concludes with a reflection by the participants on their overall learning about mediation from the three sessions and how that fits with the practice of mediation in the law that they have experienced in shadowing a Judge.
Participants have already expressed their appreciation to the Chief Justice's office for the first session and they are looking forward to the next two.