Recommended ADR Legal Training Courses: Qualification Requirements for Hong Kong Accredited Mediators

The Hong Kong judiciary and the Department of Justice have been driving a measurable shift toward court-annexed and court-referred mediation. The 2024-2025 Policy Address explicitly endorsed the expansion of the Financial Dispute Resolution Centre’s mandate, while the Civil Justice Reform’s 15-year review, published in 2024, confirmed that mediation rates in the District Court and Court of First Instance have risen to approximately 40% of filed cases. This is not a future trend—it is the current operating reality. For litigants-in-person, HR professionals, and compliance officers, the practical consequence is immediate: Hong Kong courts now expect parties to demonstrate they have considered ADR before setting down for trial. Without a properly accredited mediator, a mediation clause in a commercial contract is unenforceable as a procedural step. The Accreditation Advisory Committee of the Hong Kong Mediation Accreditation Association Limited (HKMAAL) maintains the sole recognised mediator accreditation scheme for court-referred matters under Practice Direction 31. This article sets out the qualification pathways, the mandatory training courses, and the continuing professional development requirements that govern who may act as a mediator in Hong Kong’s legal framework.

The Regulatory Framework for Accredited Mediators

The legislative foundation for mediator accreditation in Hong Kong rests on the Mediation Ordinance (Cap. 620) and the associated Practice Directions. Section 4 of Cap. 620 defines mediation as a structured process, but the ordinance does not itself prescribe who may mediate. That function is delegated to HKMAAL, which operates under the oversight of the Secretary for Justice’s Mediation Steering Committee.

HKMAAL Accreditation Tiers

HKMAAL maintains three accreditation tiers: General Accredited Mediator (Level 1), Specialist Accredited Mediator (Level 2), and Mediator Trainer. As of the 2024 HKMAAL Annual Report, there were 2,847 General Accredited Mediators, 412 Specialist Accredited Mediators, and 89 Mediator Trainers on the register. Each tier carries distinct training and assessment requirements.

General Accredited Mediator (Level 1) requires completion of a 40-hour HKMAAL-recognised mediation course, followed by a written assessment and a supervised mediation role-play. The course must cover the seven core competencies set out in the HKMAAL Mediator Competency Framework: understanding mediation, the mediation process, communication skills, negotiation skills, ethics, cross-cultural awareness, and legal knowledge.

Specialist Accredited Mediator (Level 2) requires a further 40 hours of advanced training, plus a minimum of 10 mediated cases completed within the preceding three years. The specialist designation is available in four streams: commercial, family, construction, and community. Each stream has its own casework and assessment criteria.

The Mediation Ordinance (Cap. 620) and Practice Direction 31

Practice Direction 31 mandates that any mediator appointed under a court order must be accredited by HKMAAL or an equivalent body recognised by the court. The Practice Direction applies to all proceedings in the Court of First Instance, the District Court, and the Family Court. Failure to use an HKMAAL-accredited mediator can result in the court refusing to adjourn proceedings for mediation, and may lead to adverse costs orders under Order 62 of the Rules of the High Court (Cap. 4A).

The Mediation Ordinance provides that mediation communications are confidential and inadmissible in court, subject to limited exceptions under Section 8. This statutory protection applies only where the mediation is conducted by an accredited mediator. Parties who mediate with an unaccredited individual lose that evidentiary privilege.

Recognised Training Providers and Course Structures

The HKMAAL maintains a list of Recognised Mediator Training Providers. As of January 2025, there were 17 approved providers. Each provider must submit its course curriculum for HKMAAL review every three years and maintain a pass rate of at least 70% for its candidates.

The Four Major Training Providers

The Hong Kong Mediation Centre (HKMC) offers the most widely enrolled General Mediator Training Course. The course runs over five consecutive days, totalling 40 contact hours, and includes a written examination on Day 5. HKMC reports a 2024 pass rate of 82% for first-time candidates.

The Hong Kong Institute of Arbitrators (HKIArb) offers a combined arbitration and mediation pathway. Their Mediation Training Course satisfies HKMAAL requirements and also qualifies candidates for the HKIArb Associate Mediator designation. The course fee is HKD 15,800 as of 2025.

The City University of Hong Kong School of Law runs a Postgraduate Certificate in Mediation. This is the only university-based programme that satisfies both HKMAAL Level 1 and Level 2 requirements within a single academic year. The programme costs HKD 68,000 for the 2025 intake.

The Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) provides a specialist mediation course focused on commercial disputes. Their course includes three mock mediation sessions with practising barristers acting as assessors. HKIAC’s course is the only one that includes a module on cross-border enforcement of mediated settlement agreements under the Singapore Convention on Mediation, which Hong Kong ratified in 2020.

Course Content and Assessment Standards

Every HKMAAL-recognised course must allocate a minimum of 12 hours to role-play and simulated mediation. The written assessment tests knowledge of the Mediation Ordinance, the HKMAAL Code of Conduct, and the ethical obligations set out in the Code of Conduct for Mediators (Cap. 620 subsidiary legislation). Candidates must achieve a minimum score of 70% on the written paper and a passing grade on the role-play assessment.

The role-play assessment is conducted by two independent assessors appointed by HKMAAL. The assessors evaluate the candidate against the HKMAAL Competency Framework using a standardised scoring rubric. The pass mark for the role-play is 60%, but candidates who score below 50% on any single competency must retake the entire assessment.

Continuing Professional Development and Renewal

Accreditation under HKMAAL is not permanent. General Accredited Mediators must renew their accreditation every three years. The renewal requirements are set out in the HKMAAL Mediator Accreditation Scheme Rules, revised in 2023.

CPD Hour Requirements

General Accredited Mediators must complete 12 CPD hours per three-year cycle. Specialist Accredited Mediators must complete 18 CPD hours. Mediator Trainers must complete 24 CPD hours. At least 50% of the CPD hours must be in mediation-specific topics, not general legal or dispute resolution seminars.

HKMAAL maintains a list of approved CPD providers. As of 2025, there were 23 approved providers offering CPD courses. The HKMAAL Mediator CPD Guidelines require that each CPD activity be at least one hour in duration and include an assessment component. Self-study, including reading legal journals or watching recorded seminars, counts for a maximum of 4 hours per cycle.

Casework Requirements for Specialist Renewal

Specialist Accredited Mediators seeking renewal must also demonstrate they have conducted at least 5 mediated cases within the preceding three years. These cases must be documented with a mediation agreement, a settlement agreement or a certificate of non-settlement, and a feedback form completed by each party. HKMAAL conducts random audits of 10% of renewal applications each year.

The 2023 HKMAAL Annual Report noted that 34 mediators were removed from the register for failing to meet CPD requirements, and 12 were removed for submitting incomplete or falsified casework documentation.

Qualification Pathways for Non-Lawyers

The common misconception is that only solicitors or barristers can become accredited mediators. The legislation and HKMAAL rules do not require a legal qualification.

The Non-Legal Professional Pathway

HKMAAL’s General Accredited Mediator Level 1 is open to any person aged 21 or over who holds a Hong Kong degree or equivalent professional qualification, or who has at least five years of full-time work experience in a relevant field. The HKMAAL Mediator Accreditation Scheme Rules define “relevant field” to include human resources, social work, engineering, accounting, and financial services.

HR professionals and compliance officers are among the fastest-growing groups of new applicants. In 2024, 28% of new General Accredited Mediator applicants came from non-legal backgrounds, according to HKMAAL registration data. The course curriculum does not assume legal knowledge, though candidates are expected to understand the basic legal framework of mediation confidentiality and settlement agreements.

The Family Mediator Pathway

Family mediation carries additional qualification requirements under the Family Mediation Scheme operated by the Department of Justice. Family mediators must complete a separate 40-hour family mediation course approved by the Secretary for Justice, in addition to the General Mediator qualification. The course covers the Matrimonial Proceedings and Property Ordinance (Cap. 192), the Child Care Proceedings, and domestic violence screening protocols.

The Family Mediation Scheme requires that mediators hold a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, law, or a related field. As of 2025, there were 378 registered family mediators on the Department of Justice’s list.

Actionable Takeaways

1. Register for a 40-hour HKMAAL-recognised General Mediator Training Course from an approved provider such as HKMC, HKIArb, CityU, or HKIAC before applying for court-referred mediation appointments.
2. Verify that any mediator you instruct holds current HKMAAL accreditation by checking the online register maintained by the Mediation Steering Committee.
3. Ensure your CPD records are filed with HKMAAL at least three months before your accreditation expiry date to avoid removal from the register.
4. If you are an HR professional or compliance officer, confirm that your employer’s mediation clause in employment contracts specifies an HKMAAL-accredited mediator to preserve confidentiality protections under Cap. 620.
5. For family or construction disputes, confirm that the mediator holds the relevant specialist accreditation (Level 2) before signing the mediation agreement.

This does not constitute legal advice. Consult a solicitor for your specific case.