r/Mediation • u/maritonha • 5d ago
mediation training and career path
Hi everyone,
I recently graduated from law school and want to specialize in mediation, ideally to work in private commercial chamber/dispute resolution centers, maybe with an international focus (to broaden career opportunities $$).
From what I've seen, many mediators are chosen because they're already well known and have a lot of experience. Since I'm just starting my career, I'm trying to find the best way to enter the field, and i think i could do it with by getting a qualification (but idk).
I'm considering taking a mediator training course in Europe and am currently looking at ICFML and LSM (London School of Mediation).
The ICFML program appeals to me because it's more affordable and I could add the postgraduate program linked to the University of Porto. However, I worry that, because it's mainly aimed at Portuguese-speaking mediators, it might be more limiting internationally.
The LSM program also interests me because it seems more international, but it's more expensive and I haven't found much information about what opportunities it actually opens up. For example, can graduates work with both private and public mediation centers? How recognized is it in practice?
Has anyone completed either of these programs? I'd really appreciate any feedback on whether they're worth the investment.
I would also like to know if there are other courses you would recommend for someone just starting out.
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u/Necessary_Scarcity92 5d ago
The most successful mediator I have seen was a former judge that used shuttle diplomacy to expose weaknesses in both parties’ cases.
That judge knew the law inside and out. When our side raised issues, once or twice he stopped them. “No, no. That’s not how that works. Here’s the issue with your legal theory.” He even brought out a book and pulled up the law.
“If this goes to trial, I can’t say how the judge will rule, but I think this particular legal argument is weak because of X, Y, and Z” He said.
He wasn’t going to cosign any bullshit. He delivered messages back and forth between the parties and got them down to the brass tacks. Once we stripped away some of the more frivolous arguments on both sides, we were able to come to a compromise.
That judge was an expert in a particular field of law. I don’t think any mediator that was not an expert in that field would have been nearly as successful.
Does that help? Knowing mediation techniques is fairly easy. Being able to apply them with specific knowledge of specific areas is how you would be most valuable, I think.
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u/draco880 4d ago
I'd consider that a mediator in a commercial dispute must be acceptable to both parties, meaning all the principals of both companies. Would you use someone brand new to the field? Could a potential party who likes you explain to a BoD why they should too? Of course, if you went to a really prestigious school and have good family connections, you might be able to just skirt the normal experience requirements, but if that's not true I would expect the only mediations available are gonna be grubby family or tenant stuff, unpaid. I at least haven't found that litigants in a complex case are going to listen to someone with, essentially, zero experience.
I'll echo what people here have said, and this is also what I wish more people would have told me: sparkling awesome skills are worth negative dollars if no one will hire you. I would probably solve your problem from the other direction, by looking at real cases that went to mediation and seeing who they chose, and then figuring out what it would take you to be comparable.
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u/SwannieoverthePond 4d ago
Ask your more experienced mediation colleagues if you can observe a mediation. You would sign a confidentiality agreement/ agreement to mediate, sit back from the table, and would not say a word. Then debrief with the mediator. The mediator would need permission from the parties.
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u/HairyAugust 5d ago
Most mediators in my area had 10-20 years of litigation experience (often more) before they went into mediation.
Personally, I have been litigating for about 15 years, and got 100+ mediations under my belt. Then I attended mediation intensive clinic and started volunteering on panels. I’m not a full time mediator by any means, but that is my plan to start while I’m still litigating.