I have often been asked what the qualifications of a good mediator are. My answer is self serving but true. I have worked hard to make sure that I am the best qualified to mediate a case. Remember it is not bragging if true. So as to not bore you with all of the qualifications of a good mediator and how I fulfill those qualifications, I will space them out over time.
Good Mediators are attorneys. I have been a full time practicing California attorney since 2001. I am authorized to appear before the California Supreme Court, Northern District of California and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Therefore I am able to approach a problem looking at the legal issues besides working the parties and their attorneys to resolve those issues.
Good Mediators realize that mediation is much more complex than litigation. In litigation you can just follow the law and ignore personalities and their problems. Many times, there is only one dispute initially presented in mediation, but once mediation there are many legal and non-legal issues that need to be resolved before a global solution can be reached.
Good Mediators have acquired excellent mediation skills. I have hundreds of hours of direct mediation training. I have taught 40-hour and 25-hour mediation classes. Members of the classes have included bench officers (Judges). I have mentored other mediators. I have made many California MCLE presentations on mediation. MCLE is continuing education for attorneys. I have conducted over a thousand mediations with a very high success rate. These have included appellant mediations as well. These are cases where one party has already ‘won’ and they were sent out to mediation by the Court of Appeal.
About the Author: Ken Strongman (www.kpstrongman.com) has years of experience and a growing national reputation as a mediator and arbitrator. He has successfully resolved more than a thousand disputes in the fields of construction defects, real estate, intellectual property, and employment. He is also a Mediator and Arbitrator for FINRA.
© 2020 Ken Strongman. All Rights Reserved. Please do not copy or repost without permission.
Comments
2 responses to “FAQ: What are some the qualifications of a good mediator? Part I”
Hello Ken,
I don’t know if you remember me, I was in your class at JFK University for the paralegal program a few years back. While I do not work in the legal field directly, I do work in Regulatory Affairs for a major medical device company. I have always been interested in your Mediation workshop trainings and want to know if you are still offering the training. I think mediation skills are essential for regulatory work as we have to work across the business with groups that have competing interests and ideals, while at the same time being compliant with federal regulations.
Thanks for your time.
Best regards,
Christine Dunbar
Yes, I do remember you. I am currently developing a class in mediation. The working title is: “The “End Game” of Mediation and How to Succeed at It [A Comprehensive Road Map to the Mediation Process]” Though the dates are not firmed up yet, the class will be in early March 2015. I will be putting out more information on it as soon as the dates are confirmed.