The Laser Project:
A Unique Partnership
The L.A.S.E.R. Project (Lawyers and Students Engaged in Resolution)
trains attorneys, community volunteers
and school personnel to train and mentor student peer mediators in elementary
and secondary schools and community sites statewide.
L.A.S.E.R. Project training incorporates many features of other
excellent school-based peer mediation programs – communication skills like
active listening, perspective-taking, anger management, problem-solving,
collaborative negotiation, mock mediations and role plays. Training is offered free of charge to
volunteers, lawyers and school personnel twice a year.
L.A.S.E.R. differs from other programs
because it asks its volunteers to make a long-term commitment to the school or
community program. After initial
training, volunteers return monthly or quarterly to connect with staff, mentor
student mediators or provide advanced training.
The L.A.S.E.R. Project allows lawyers to
demonstrate their skills in negotiating not only the legal issues but also the
“heart” issues which are so often at the core of disputes. L.A.S.E.R. provides attorneys and other
volunteers an opportunity to make an important contribution to their community
school.
Teachers in participating schools say they appreciate the “new
energy” provided by volunteer lawyers and others. They value the skills and
training resources these volunteers bring, and respect the community support
evidenced by the time and effort expended by the volunteers in L.A.S.E.R. programs.
Teachers report that students are excited
to have attorneys teaching them mediation skills. It gives real-world perspective and added importance to students’
efforts as peer mediators. Students
talk to L.A.S.E.R. volunteers about careers as attorneys, judges, and
professional mediators. Bringing
L.A.S.E.R. volunteers who are also parents and community members into local
schools, strengthens schools by expanding contact with staff, increasing the
numbers of caring adults involved with students, and thereby developing
powerful advocates for schools.
WHAT DOES L.A.S.E.R. DO FOR
STUDENTS?
q Promotes understanding that conflict is a natural and normal part
of life and that mediation is a better response to conflict than violence.
q Helps students work together despite individual differences.
q Promotes a positive school climate.
q Reduces suspensions and expulsions by providing alternative methods
of resolving conflict.
q Improves communication skills.
q Help students learn to solve their own problems.
q Develops an awareness of compromise as a positive means of
resolving conflict.
q Provides exposure to legal professionals to gain an awareness of
the law and the work of lawyers.
HOW DO LAWYERS &
VOLUNTEERS HELP?
q By volunteering to be trained in mediation by L.A.S.E.R.
q By adopting a school in the community and working with
administration and staff to develop and
sustain the program.
q By training student mediators .
q By making a two-year commitment to support the school.
HOW DO
SCHOOLS PARTICIPATE?
q By endorsing peer mediation as an option for dispute resolution.
q By informing school staff, students and parents of the program.
q By assigning a coordinator to support the students and the project.
q By enlisting student participation.
q By selecting qualified student mediators.
HOW DID L.A.S.E.R. ORIGINATE?
L.A.S.E.R.
resulted from 1994 legislation requiring the Office of the Attorney General,
the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Washington State
Bar Association, to offer a program of conflict mediation training for schools
and community groups.
L.A.S.E.R. is endorsed and supported by:
Washington State Attorney General
Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
Washington State Bar Association
Alternative Dispute Resolution - WSBA
Asian Bar Association
Loren Miller Bar Association
Northwest Indian Bar Association
U.S. Attorney’s Office (Western WA. District)
Washington State Trial Lawyers Association
Young Lawyers Division, WSBA
Washington Women Lawyers
Superior Court Judges Association
District & Municipal Court Judges
Association
Private donations provide the support and
resources necessary to provide this valuable training and support to students
in our schools
L.A.S.E.R. is a
501 (c) (3) organization.
L.A.S.E.R. training is provided at no
cost to participants who will volunteer to work for two years in a school or
community-based peer mediation program.
You can help with a tax-deductible donation. Your check made payable to the L.A.S.E.R. Project will help keep
this program alive. Send your check to:
The L.A.S.E.R
Project
20634 6th
Avenue South
Seattle 98198
(206) 730-4699
administrator@laserpeer.org
www.laserpeer.org
Information related to the financial affairs of L.A.S.E.R.
is available by contacting the Office of the Secretary of State, toll-free, at
1-800-332-GIVE.
