Date & Time: September 10, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. (Registration at 9:40)
Location: Lancaster Atrium, Joseph F. Weis Jr. Federal Courthouse 700 Grant Street, 3rd Floor
Presenters:
Hon. Kezia O. L. Taylor, U.S. District Court, Western District of Pa.
Hon. Lisa Pupo Lenihan, (Ret.), Judge Lenihan Alternative Dispute Resolution
Alicia Nocera, Esq., Mediation Council of Western Pennsylvania; noblemediation, LLC
Jeanette Ho, Esq., Thomas, Thomas & Hafer, LLP
CLE Program Description: This program will equip both attorneys and alternative dispute resolution professionals with the skills and knowledge necessary to prepare for and participate in the mediation of pro se civil cases. Program topics will include the role of the mediator and the separate ethical considerations for attorneys and mediators, effective client communication, management of client expectations, valuation of claims, mediation preparation, and special mediation techniques and considerations that apply to pro se prisoner litigants. Attorneys and ADR professionals who have served as or are considering serving as pro bono counsel or mediators or who are interested in learning more about this Pro Bono Program should attend. Any attorney and ADR professional is encouraged to attend, as the mediation skills covered in this program are readily applicable to other civil cases.
Pro Bono Program Description: The Court manages a Pro Bono Program that identifies attorneys who will represent the pro se plaintiff pro bono during the ADR process and mediators who will conduct the ADR session pro bono. Participating professionals positively impact underserved communities by providing services to indigent litigants, while building dispute resolution skills through practical experience and handling intellectually challenging issues of Constitutional law.
CLE Registration & Cost: Register and pay by August 31, 2026. The program qualifies for a total of 1.5 Pennsylvania CLE Credits (1 Substantive and .5 Ethics) provided by the Mediation Council of Western Pennsylvania (a registered provider that reports all CLE credits). CLE cost is $30.00. Credits are provided at the reduced cost of $20.00 for Law Clerks, Mediation Council members, and attorneys who commit to providing pro bono mediation services in a pro se prisoner civil rights case in the Western District of Pennsylvania within one year of the CLE date. Attendance without CLE credits is at no cost, but pre-registration is required. To register and pay go to the events page of the Mediation Council’s website, https://www.mediationcouncilpa.org/mediation-events. The Court cannot accept payment for CLE credits and plays no role in offering, providing, or reporting CLE credits to the Pennsylvania Bar.