Face-to-Face Mediation Meetings

The Beginning

The mediation will usually start with a joint session of introductions and openings. If not already signed at this point, the ‘Agreement to Mediate ’ will be signed and each party will confirm they have the authority to settle. The process will be explained in more detail and each party (usually starting with the claimant / complainant) will be invited to make a brief opening statement without interruption from the other party. The mediator may ask some questions to clarify each party’s position and then may summarise it.

Mediation in progress

The mediator will then determine how best to proceed having listened to what has been said. Usually the parties will separate and meet the mediator in private and confidential sessions to explore the case in more detail. This is to assist the mediator gain greater understanding of the dispute so the mediator can encourage and motivate the parties towards resolution.

Confidential Shuttle Sessions

It must be emphasised that what is said in these sessions will be confidential between each party and the mediator, who will not dis close anything said in the private sessions unless given explicit authority to do so.

Testing the Reality of Proposals

At times the mediator may challenge the assertions of a party but this does not indicate agreement with the other party’s position – it is to assist a party to be realistic about the proposals they are forwarding and consider how the other party may react in the hope this will promote settlement.

It is likely that the separate private sessions with each party will continue for some time until an agreement is reached.  On occasions it may be beneficial to reconvene.

Settlement

In a face to face mediation, when an agreement has been reached, the parties will be asked to translate it into a formal document which when signed will be binding on each party.

On-Line Zoom Video-Conference and Telephone Mediations

Differences Between On-Line and Telephone, and Face-to-Face Mediation

Individual Agreements to Mediate are usually ‘signed’ by the parties before the mediation and exchanged through the mediator by email prior to the mediation. The mediator conducts the mediation using on-line video-conferencing with individual conferencing rooms for private sessions.  The arrangements for and the cost of video-conferencing provided as an inclusive service at no extra charge.  Where video-conferencing is not suitable, a combination of telephone conference calling with the parties and individual private calls between the mediator and each party is used. Otherwise the procedure is as for the face to face mediation above. Smart-phones, tablets, lap-tops and PCs can all be used for on-line video-conference calls using Zoom, Skype or FaceTime.  Telephone calls may be by mobile phone, land line or an application such as Skype, FaceTime, Whats App etc.

Settlement

In an on-line video-conference mediation the settlement agreement can be produced during the mediation by the parties.  In telephone mediation, when agreement has been reached, the parties can dictate the agreement to the mediator who can write down the broad terms of the agreement and confirm the contents verbally in a conference call with both parties. The mediator can then email the agreed copy to each party for turning into a formal document and/or signing and can exchange signed copies with the parties by email.