What are mediators? A mediator is a professional who is trained and accredited through an external mediation training body. Their function is to help those that are in dispute to resolve their difficulties without pursuing further action. Such as court litigation, an employment tribunal action, or any other formal action of a similar nature.

Mediator Benefits

There are several benefits of using a mediator service. The main four are as follows when compared to court action, litigation;

  • Cheaper, on average the quicker you mediate you will save on average thousands of pounds in wasted court fees, solicitors, barristers, disbursements and experts.
  • Time, obviously the quicker you mediate, the more time you will save. Court actions on average take months, even years to pass through the litigation process in the UK. Other jurisdictions, such as India, Africa and the far east, take much longer! A mediation takes between on average four to eight hours.
  • Confidential,the mediator ensures that the whole mediation process is confidential. Especially anything that they have been told in a private meeting, whereby they have been asked not to discuss it with the other party.

Court hearings especially in the higher courts, such as the High Court, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court are a matter of public record, and do not remain confidential.

  • Stress, imagine going through the court process, the sleepless nights, the legal fees racking up, your physical and mental health starts to suffer, two to three years of this continually takes its toll on individuals. A mediator can bring you closure and certainty within hours, avoiding all this drama.

Mediator Traits

The mediator’s traits are they must not take sides, must act with no bias, be completely independent. They must observe the rules of confidentiality, without prejudice, ensuring the mediation remains a voluntary process throughout. They must not impose a solution. Report any money laundering and address any power imbalances between the parties.

Online Mediators Rules

The rules for online mediators are exactly the same as if a mediator was mediating in person. The only difference is they should be IT literate, and be able to use the video calling platform effectively.

Mediator Qualities  

Those who possess the below qualities make extremely gifted and effective mediators. A person who is confident, patient, observant, a good listener, assertive, professional yet friendly. Being an effective communicator, having interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence, being able to tailor your communication to the understanding of your recipient.

Is A Mediator?

Is a mediator a lawyer, or arbitrator. Yes and no. Mediators come from a variety of professional backgrounds, lawyers, judges, construction, HR experts, doctors, consultants, surveyors, managers, but they are not always lawyers. A lot of mediators are also arbitrators and adjudicators, and a lot are not.

What Does The Mediator Mediate?

Most mediators are just commercial mediators, those who mediate anything of a civil or commercial background, for example a boundary, contract or business dispute.  Then you have workplace mediation experts who just mediate anything that concerns a dispute in the workplace, such as bias, discrimination, communication issues. Family mediators just mediate divorce and separation disputes, and all the other issues that stem from that, access / custody of children, CT100 forms, finances, grandparent rights and so forth. Then you family mediators who only mediate probate, family business & property disputes. You also get mediators who have trained across the whole spectrum and are commercial, workplace and family mediators.

Mediator Services

How do you find a mediator? You can find mediators from a Google search, your solicitor can recommend one, your local council, MP, or CAB may be able to recommend one. Most mediation providers have panels of mediators which you can choose from. Most mediator services operate nationally or just regionally.

For example, some with cover the whole United Kingdom, whereas others will just cover London, the South East, the Midlands, and or a combination, which suits their personal needs. Generally, their area of operation is determined by where they actually live and work. So, for example a mediator who lives in Birmingham, may just cover Birmingham, Walsall, Coventry and Wolverhampton. Some mediators have now opted to be just online mediators, and no longer offer in person services. Whatever you need a mediator for, you will be able to find a mediator near me, you as more and more professionals are training to be mediators.