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***NOTE: NEW TRAINING DATES AND LOCATIONS ARE LISTED***

Judiciary Offers Additional Training for Mediators in Foreclosure Matters

The New Jersey Judiciary has added additional training for mediators who wish to volunteer for the courts' residential mortgage foreclosure mediation program, announced Judge Glenn A. Grant, acting administrative director of the courts.

The training was developed as part of a Judiciary program that will provide mediators to help homeowners and lenders try to work out agreements to avoid foreclosures. Training sessions will be held at various locations throughout the state to ensure that all interested mediators will have the opportunity to participate.

"In the midst of this foreclosure crisis, we have called on mediators statewide to assist us with this program, and they have not let us down," said Judge Grant, who offered praise and gratitude for those who have agreed to serve in this capacity. "Attorneys and other professionals have donated their time and their expertise to help address a daily broadening crisis. We will make sure that they receive the additional training they need to become our allies in this effort."

The Judiciary also will offer the mandatory 3-day training to those who wish to be approved mediators so they may participate in the foreclosure mediation program. This program will incorporate both the mandatory 18-hour basic mediation training required of all court-approved mediators, as well as the one-day foreclosure mediation training.

Faculty for the training sessions will include Michelle Perone, Esq., chief of civil practice for the Judiciary; Eric Max, Esq., director of the Office of Dispute Settlement within the Department of the Public Advocate; and Caroline Petrilla, Esq. assistant director of the Office of Dispute Settlement. Also serving as faculty will be representatives from Legal Services of New Jersey, the Department of Banking and Insurance, the Office of the Attorney General, the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, as well as HUD-certified housing counselors.

A full schedule of training dates is listed below, with the new dates appearing in bold. All training sessions will begin at 9:30 a.m. Those interested in the training should register by contacting Shoba Chopra at 609-292-8470 or shoba.chopra@judiciary.state.nj.us.