According to R. Sage Viohl, the Jablow fellowship began with, “perhaps the most intensive training I have ever had, and also the most fun training I have ever had.” They remember going home each evening “exhausted, but excited” about what they had learned as well as upcoming learning opportunities. By the end of the fellowship, Sage was a mediator having completed two mediations.
Each year, the Ronna K. Jablow Mediation Fellowship funds a Maryland Carey Law student to spend a summer working with Community Mediation Maryland (CMM), supporting its mission and helping law students see conflicts and social challenges through the lens of the community mediation movement. The Fellowship was established in 2017 in loving memory of Ronna K. Jablow, a dedicated Maryland attorney and mediator who found her true passion in mediation.
Sage is particularly proud of the contributions they made to the long-term efforts of CMM this summer. In addition to developing their conflict resolution skills, Sage engaged in a months-long research project exploring the use of alternate dispute resolution practices in public schools. Sage’s work product will support CMM grant applications, a critical need for the non-profit, which relies on various state and federal grants to support its free mediation services.
The lasting impact of Jablow fellows was also evident to Sage when they had the opportunity to connect with previous Jablow fellows, Joanna Woodson ‘22 and Cate Wilkins ’23. Both former fellows remained engaged with CMM after law school graduation. Currently, Joanna serves as the Education Director for CMM, overseeing the restorative justice in schools program, and Cate serves as a member of the Community Mediation Maryland Board of Directors.
The opportunity to connect with previous Fellows provided added value to the experience. As Sage reflected, “It was lovely to be able to talk with people who were in the exact same position as me not too long ago and hearing the ways they were utilizing their law degrees without becoming litigators.” The previous fellows provided further support that the knowledge and skills acquired through the fellowship have direct application to legal practice.
Sage attributes the fellowship as “confirming that I strongly prefer alternate dispute resolution practices to any kind of traditional litigation.” Since concluding the summer fellowship, Sage has connected with their local community mediation center and plans to serve as a volunteer mediator as well as complete additional courses in pursuit of completing Maryland Carey Law’s Dispute Resolution Track.