How Does One Receive Mediation Training?
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Introduction
In general, as there is no standardized certification for mediators, one must rely on the opinion of professional mediation associations. Academic and accreditation requirements will vary between localities so one should probably locate the local professional organization of mediators to determine the standards needs to practice mediation. These organizations generally set peer-reviewed standards on who can merit consideration as a mediator. Membership in the organization confers legitimacy on the practitioner as it shows peer recognition in dispute resolution which is important in fields that lack sweeping certifications and accreditation.
What are the qualities needed to become a mediator?
Before entering mediation training, one must ascertain that they have the qualities necessary to work as an effective mediator. Unlike arbitrators and conciliators, mediators must remain impartial and removed from the case. They must have good listening skills and a sense of empathy so that they may better understand the parties. Lastly, they must be an effective communicator so that they may aid the parties in reaching a resolution during the later stages of the mediation. Many top universities offer dispute resolution graduate programs for individuals interested in pursuing a career in dispute resolution. These programs will be able to offer the appropriate education and supervised practice that will help to meet peer standards of an appropriate mediator.
What codes of professional conduct do mediators abide by?
As mentioned above, as there are no sweeping governing bodies or certifications in the dispute resolution field, practitioners are bound only by their professional code of ethics and the standards of their peers. In this way, professional organizations help as they provide codes of conduct for their members to abide by. In this way, parties seeking mediators can ascertain the level of professionalism and experience they will get from an individual belonging to that organization. These rules include refraining from offering legal advice, caring for the well-being of all involved in the mediation and a vow of impartiality when dealing with clients. In additional to ethical rules, mediators must also abide by legal rules such as maintaining confidentiality agreements.
Should mediators specialize in certain forms of mediation?
The field of mediation is incredibly broad and tends to lend itself to specialization as most mediators will not be able to develop adequate knowledge to provide sound advice on all cases. Specializations may range from family mediation to workplace issues and business or landlord issues. While clients ultimately guide and shape their own resolution, the mediator needs ample background knowledge to asses given solutions and make recommendations as allowed by the terms of the mediation. Lastly, not all mediation is legal dispute based. Some mediators help businesses negotiate business deals and transactions, serving to communicate the needs of the seller and client
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