2025 Incubator Program

The Academy of Court-Appointed Neutrals (ACAN) aims to be the voice of the profession of court-appointed neutrals (CANs). ACAN is working to broaden both the array of professionals who serve as CANs and the opportunities that those professionals have to serve the administration of justice. The term “neutral” includes a broad array of judicial adjuncts who assist the administration of justice through any of numerous titles including “special master,” “referee,” “monitor,” and “claims administrator,” among many others.

One of ACAN’s goals is to facilitate systems in which appointments can be made from broad, diverse pools, based on merit and suitability for the case and to create new pathways for talented professionals to become neutrals. ACAN believes that these systems and pathways will serve the interests of justice.

To further to this goal, ACAN launched an Incubator program. The program offers both training and mentorship for up to 12 aspiring CAN participants. The program will kick-off with a one-day session in Washington, D.C. on January 27, 2025, and continue with four virtual meetings throughout 2025. The January one-day session will be a deep dive into basic CAN skills and issues with a faculty made up of very experienced Judges and CANs. Details will be announced as we get closer to the meeting. Each of the four quarterly virtual sessions will focus on special topics that cohort members identify as important to them in their work. The Incubator Program will build on ACAN's basic training on substantive content.

One key feature of the Incubator program is mentorship. The mentorship component is designed to facilitate meaningful relationships between participants and well-respected CANs. For the 2025 Incubator Program, we will attempt to tailor the mentor-mentee relationship to the unique needs of the mentee, after discussions with the mentee.

ACAN's Incubator program will also focus on the realities of breaking into the profession. ACAN acknowledges that securing work as a CAN is difficult. It does not and cannot guarantee that participation in the Incubator program will result in a court-appointment.

Requirements

  • Participants must be ACAN members. More information on membership and the application can be found here. Applicants who are not yet ACAN members and who are selected for the cohort must join ACAN in order to participate in the Incubator Program.
     
  • Applicants must complete an online application form here no later than December 16, 2024. Decisions will be announced by December 30, 2024. 
     
  • Accepted participants will pay a $2,500 Program Fee. This fee covers the full program year including hotel and introductory dinner in Washington, D.C. but not your flight. ACAN intends that there be no financial barriers to participation in the Incubator Program. We have scholarship assistance available to help defray the costs involved for those accepted into the cohort. If you are accepted into the Incubator Program and need assistance, we will be happy to speak with you about meeting your scholarship request.
     

Schedule

In-person Incubator Training
January 27, 2025
Washington, DC

Four additional virtual training dates TBA
 

    For more information, please contact ACAN Fellows and Incubator Program designers David Tenner and Bernard Charbonnet.