Qualifications for Mediators

Law.com reports that New York established guidelines for court-appointed mediators.  The qualifications include:

• 24 hours of basic mediation training;
• 16 hours of additional training in specific mediation techniques that are case-specific;
• Five years of legal practice or service as a judge;
• "Substantial experience" in the types of cases referred to the mediator; and
• Continuing legal education of six hours every two years.

What do you think of this program?  Too much training?  Not enough?  What about the "background" characteristics for a court-appointment--do they make sense?  Let me know.