Mediator

As a mediator you will be required to offer a neutral perspective on arguments on a consultancy basis. A lot mediation is required in legal disputes such as child custody agreements and financial disputes.

Introduction

Before mediation can begin all parties must agree to civil parameters beforehand. You will have to stay focused throughout and listen to both sides of the argument without any bias. You will also have to keep everyone else in the room focused and do your upmost to make sure an agreement is made between both parties in a civil manner. You will encourage both sides to come to an agreement so that the matter does not have to go to court.

What the job involves

Mediation is used in a number of different scenarios such as settlement of legal disputes, child custody agreements, strike action, financial disputes and many other possibilities. You will spend a lot of time in face-to-face meetings, but you will also spend time facilitating meetings and organising the rules and parameters for how and where the meetings will be arranged,

Skills

Excellent communication skills
Excellent listening skills
Resilience
Patience
organisation skills
Flexibility
Ability to empathise with both parties
Ability to remain unbiased
Understanding of confidentiality

Typical employers

Self-employment
counselling organisations
independent advice centres
law firms
the police
public sector organisations
regulatory bodies
trade unions.

Typical qualifications

To become a qualified mediator, you have to partake in an accredited training programme run by a professional body. The type of mediating that you wish to specialise in will dictate which training requirements you will need to meet. You will need to have a degree in a relevant discipline such as law, education or counselling.