YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

IS OFFERING TO MEDIATE A SIGN OF WEAKNESS? AM I INSURED? WHAT TYPES OF DISPUTES CAN WE HELP WITH? WHY TRY MEDIATION? WHAT WILL HAPPEN AT THE MEETING? CAN I HAVE A LAWYER PRESENT? DOES THE MEDIATOR MEET WITH THE PARTIES BEFORE MEDIATION?

WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE IS NO AGREEMENT? WHAT ARE THE COURTS VIEWS ON MEDIATION? WHAT QUALIFICATION DO I HAVE AS A MEDIATOR? THE OTHER SIDE WONT MEDIATE? HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

 

IS OFFERING TO MEDIATE A SIGN OF WEAKNESS?

No - there is nothing to lose by offering to mediate even if you believe you have a strong case. Few lawyers would advise their clients that they are bound to win a Court case.

 

AM I INSURED?

YES - I have professional indemnity insurance for me and my clients protection.It covers legal liability cover, fee recovery, document loss, libel and slander, breach of confidentiality and breach of copyright.

 

WHAT TYPES OF DISPUTES CAN WE HELP WITH?

Mediation helps with a wide range of disputes including:

Commercial Mediation concerns businesses or individuals in conflict over such areas as Contracts of Sale, Property, Patents and Trade-marks, Personal Injury and Negligence.

Workplace Mediation addresses Disagreements about Employment Contracts, Working Styles, Roles, Responsibilities, Pay and Allegations of Discrimination or Harrassment.

Family Mediation helps couples at any stage of separation or Divorce to deal with such issues as the care of Children, Property and Financial Matters. Mediation can also apply to disputes involving other Family Relationships.

Community or Neighbourhood Mediation can help solve conflict between neighbours such as Noise, Nuisance, Harassment or Boundary Disputes or issues with local councils, schools and health authorities, Housing.

Aswell as…
Business disputes
Small Debt Claims
Disputes over goods and services such as Electrical Appliances, Holidays, Phone, Internet
Home Improvements etc

 

WHY TRY MEDIATION?

Mediation is:

• Confidential
• Unbiased
• Voluntary
• Quicker than the courts,some cases can take years before a hearing
• Puts the parties in control
• Less Stressful, less Anxiety
• Considerably cheaper than going to court
• No Solicitors costs
• Quick and creative settlements that would not be available from the courts
• Less formal than a trial by a judge
• Directly involved in negotiating your own agreement
• No settlement can be imposed upon you  unlike a judge
• The session is conducted in private
• Possibility to explore alternative solutions that may not have been considered
• It maybe possible to re-establish a better relationship between the parties for the future
• A concluded case thru the legal channels can become the subject of an appeal that will increase costs and prolong the anguish and uncertainty that accompanies litigation
• A mediation agreement offers a full and final settlement that is acceptable to the parties
• Unlike court proceedings, mediation can be arranged within a few days

 

WHAT WILL HAPPEN AT THE MEETING?

Each mediator will have his or her own approach.I vary the process as I take the parties feelings into consideration prior to starting the process…The mediation usually takes the following format.

• I will arrange a meeting at a mutually agreed neutral location
• When the parties are all present I will explain in greater detail how the process works and will try and put both parties at ease.
• I will ask each party to descibe the dispute as they see it,I will try to identify parts that are not in disagreement and note those that are.
• After both parties have spoken I may then decide that the parties separate into separate rooms where I will go back and forth between the parties and bringing them together when I feel a solution is close.
• When we finally meet together in the joint session I will seek to obtain an ageement by all parties.
• Once the solution has been agreed I will put the terms in writing and the agreement will then need to be signed by both parties.
• REMEMBER ANYTHING SAID TO THE MEDIATOR IS STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL AND CANNOT BE DISCLOSED TO THE OTHER PARTY

 

CAN I HAVE A LAWYER PRESENT?

Yes - if you wish. You may feel that your dispute is rather complex and that you would prefer legal advice throughout the mediation, bearing in mind that the mediator cannot give any legal advice to the parties. In addition to the mediation fee, you are responsible for paying your own legal costs too.

Please note though that a number of parties choose not to bring legal representation to the mediation and still manage to resolve most if not all of their dispute on the day.

 

DOES THE MEDIATOR MEET WITH THE PARTIES BEFORE MEDIATION?

No - the mediator will conduct all discussions via telephone prior to the mediation. The first time parties meet the Mediator will be on the day of the Mediation.

 

WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE IS NO AGREEMENT?

92% of all mediations are successful but should the mediation not have the desired results both parties can go back to court. All discussions during the mediation meeting are “Without Prejudice" meaning anything said in the mediation cannot be used later in court or in another legal action. There is no obligation to agree to anything you are not happy with and you have not sacrificed any of your rights.

 

WHAT ARE THE COURTS VIEWS ON MEDIATION?

If you want to use mediation and the other side refuses you should tell the courts. If the other
Side refuses you should inform the courts. If the other side refuses to mediate without a good reason then even if they go onto win their case the judge can refuse to give them their full costs.

HER MAJESTYS COURTS SERVICE AND THE CIVIL MEDIATION COUNCIL  RECOGNIZE MEDIATION AND ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO PROMOTE MEDIATION. COURTS MAY IMPOSE COST PENALTIES IF THE PARTIES CANNOT DEMONSTRATE THAT THEY HAVE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED MEDIATION

 

WHAT QUALIFICATION DO I HAVE AS A MEDIATOR?

The truth is that there are some mediators who have not qualified and pass themselves off as mediators. I have studied with TCM……………………………………….. The Academy of Experts is a professional body and has members throughout the world. The academy is now a leading proponent of the development  of Alternative Dispute Resolution  in the uk working with the civil mediation council of which it’s a member.

The academy is also a training and ccreditation body for ADR Neutrals, including Mediators, Concillators and Expert Determiners. It publishes and maintains the Register of Qualified Dispute Resolvers and awards those Mediators who has undergone vigorous and lengthy training the designatory letters QDR to those on the register. All the  mediators on the Academy of Experts Register are qualified experts in various subjects.

In addition I have undergone a training programme which includes both instruction in the various techniques that I will need to help both sides to negotiate their own agreement and an assessment in which i have to be successful before qualifying for the inclusion in the register.

 

THE OTHER SIDE WONT MEDIATE?

Once I have spoken to one party I will try to endeavour to persuade the other party to agree to mediation by drawing attention to the advantages of trying to reach a settlement by mediation

 

REMEMBER...the mediator makes no decisions...both partiesare responsible for their result.

IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER…courts are taking a tougher stance where costs awards are concerned and it is rare for the successful party to recover all of its costs.

YOUR legal rights will not be affected if for any reason the mediation does not resolve your dispute

A mediator's agreement becomes binding on the parties and is enforceable in law.