Superior Court of Los Angeles County Recognizes “Mediation Week” as the Court Celebrates Its Volunteer Mediators and Encourages Attorneys to Apply to the Court’s Mediation Volunteer Panel
April 10, 2026, Marks the Deadline to Apply for the Court’s Mediation Volunteer Panel (MVP) Virtual May Training Session
The Superior Court of Los Angeles County recognizes March 16-20 as “Mediation Week” to highlight its Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) programs, acknowledge the efforts of volunteer mediators and encourage attorneys to apply to the Court’s Mediation Volunteer Panel, Presiding Judge Sergio C. Tapia II announced today.
“The Court is committed to fostering, supporting, and expanding the many ADR resources available to help Los Angeles County litigants resolve their disputes without going to trial,” Presiding Judge Sergio C. Tapia II said. “The contributions by attorneys and mediators who volunteer their time is invaluable, and we are deeply grateful for their service. Their efforts frequently lead to mutually agreeable settlements that streamline case resolution, strengthen court operations, and allow
litigants to find peace.”
The Court is incredibly appreciative of its volunteer mediators for their work resolving civil disputes at a time when civil resources are under significant strain. Last year, the Court received over 98,000 unlimited civil filings, a 38% increase in unlimited civil filings since 2022, placing additional pressure on judicial resources. In 2025, the Court received more than 195,000 limited civil filings, an increase of 87% since 2022.
The Court has multiple ADR programs across small claims, unlawful detainer (eviction), limited and unlimited civil, civil harassment, family law, and probate case types. In 2025, the Court processed more than 10,000 referrals to ADR programs, a result of the contribution of hundreds of mediators and settlement officer volunteers. On average, the programs reported a 50% resolution rate last year.
During Mediation Week, the Court will host an ADR Volunteer Recognition Ceremony and present special recognition to more than 300 mediators and settlement officers who had more than five ADR volunteer assignments in 2025. ADR Programs:
- Resolve Law LA (RLLA) provides three-hour virtual no-cost Mandatory Settlement Conferences for personal injury and non-complex employment cases.
- Dispute Resolution Program Act (DRPA) provides day-of-hearing no-cost mediation services for small claims, unlawful detainer, and civil harassment matters, primarily for selfrepresented litigants.
- Temporary Judge Unlawful Detainer Settlement program deploys temporary judges to facilitate the no-cost settlement of eviction cases on the day of trial at four courthouse locations: Stanley Mosk, Governor George Deukmejian (Long Beach), Compton or Santa Monica courthouses.
- The Mediation Center of Los Angeles (MCLA) manages a panel of mediators that the Court may refer unlimited civil or probate cases to for low-cost mediation.
- The Civil Mediation Resource List includes organizations that have agreed to provide a limited number of low-cost or no-cost mediation sessions with attorney mediators or retired judges.
- The Family Law Daily Settlement Officer (DSO) program provides voluntary no-cost settlement conferences for parties who appear in family law matters in-person or virtually.
- The Pro Bono Probate Settlement program provides parties with a no-cost opportunity to resolve probate, trust, estate, guardianship or conservatorship cases.
- Members of the Court’s Mediation Volunteer Panel (MVP) provide three hours of no-cost mediation for unlimited civil cases referred to the MVP. In 2025, MVP mediators conducted more than 1,000 mediation sessions, reporting a 47% resolution rate.
Join the Mediation Volunteer Panel:
Attorneys interested in serving on the Court’s MVP may learn more about the program and download an application here.
For those attorneys who do not have previous training, the Court offers a 25-hour, MCLE-certified mediation training program. The next training will take place virtually over three days, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on May 18, 20 and 22. The deadline to apply to the training session is April 10, 2026. Attorneys must commit to coordinate and conduct a minimum number of pro bono mediations for the MVP. Contact the Court’s ADR Office with any questions by emailing MediationPanel@lacourt.ca.gov.
About the Superior Court of Los Angeles County
The largest trial court in the nation, the Superior Court of Los Angeles County serves a population of almost 10 million in 36 courthouses with a jurisdiction covering over 4,000 square miles that includes 88 cities, 140 unincorporated areas and dozens of law enforcement agencies. The Court is steadfast in its mission to serve our community by providing equal access to justice through the fair, timely and effective resolution of all cases.
You can view the full notice here.
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