Volunteer Arbitrator and Mediator Eligibility Requirements

The Florida Bar’s Grievance Mediation and Fee Arbitration programs are governed by Rule 14 of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar. Both programs are offered as a voluntary service to the public and members of the bar. Since there is no charge for participation, the programs rely on volunteer mediators and arbitrators to handle these matters.

Persons eligible to be program arbitrators are:

• retired judges and justices of the courts of the State of Florida;
• persons who were members of the circuit fee arbitration committees at the time or prior to the merger of the grievance mediation and fee arbitration programs;
• persons who have served on a circuit grievance committee for 1 year or more;
• any other person who is in good standing as an arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association, American Health Lawyers Association, Association for Conflict Resolution, JAMS (formerly known as Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc.), Financial Industry Regulatory authority, Inc. (FINRA), or any other similarly recognized conflict resolution organization; and
• any other person who, in the committee’s opinion, possesses the requisite education, training, or certification in alternative dispute resolution to be a program arbitrator.

Persons eligible to be program mediators are:

• Supreme Court of Florida certified mediators in good standing with the Dispute Resolution Center of the State of Florida;
• retired judges and justices of the courts of the State of Florida;
• persons who were certified program mediators at or before the merger of the grievance mediation and fee arbitration programs; and
• any other person who, in the opinion of the committee, possesses the requisite education, training, experience or certification in alternative dispute resolution to be a program mediator.

Members of The Florida Bar must be members in good standing and have no pending recommendation of minor misconduct or finding of probable cause to be eligible for appointment.

Persons wishing to become program arbitrators and/or mediators must complete an application. Members of The Florida Bar are eligible to claim a maximum of 5 hours of CLE credits in each reporting period in the area of ethics for service in the program. Volunteers may expect to handle one or two volunteer arbitrations or mediations per year.