Career Profile: Mediator/Arbitrator

Sources agree that a mediator’s earnings and hours worked per week are average, compared to the national median. The median income of a mediator is around $50,000 per year. Mediators who practice in Illinois report substantially higher earnings, however. A 40 hour work week is typical as mediation does not usually require immediate emergency sessions to be called. However, in the rare instances, hours may fluctuate according to any specific needs a client may have. (United States, Mediator) Mediators charge their clients a substantially smaller fee, than lawyers do, but also make substantially less money. Paying a mediator to help solve an issue discreetly may force the parties to compromise but chances are high that a fair settlement will be agreed upon. Paying a lawyer to possibly convince a judge of what a client wants is money better spent elsewhere, in most cases.

A capable and just mediator will intervene to resolve a conflict between two parties without providing and legal or psychological advice, taking a party’s side of the argument, or allowing unfair negotiation tactics to be used in the forum. A purely confidential and safe environment is provided to allow free communication between parties to most efficiently reach an agreed conclusion. Mediation often takes place in a conference room, private office or sometimes the mediator’s home. It is unlikely that mediation is conducted on any party’s “home-field” to limit undue stress, unfair negotiation, fear tactics or distractions. The most popular professional mediation publications, according to The Princeton Review, include AC Resolution , ABA Journal , National Law Journal and Conflict Resolution Quarterly . (Mediator) As with any practice-medicinal, law, beauty professions or otherwise- continuing education is critical to the professionals’ success.

Ritually accessing information from the fore-named sources will subsidize information gained from affiliating with a local mediation association. An effective tool to yield an amicable result of a dispute, mediation can nullify the need for many disputes to be taken to Court. A mediator’s private office or home is much more comfortable to talk about private disputes than in a stressful and unforgiving courtroom. Consequently, in the event that mediation does not prove effective in determining an agreed resolution, litigation may be needed. The task of facilitating possibly tumultuous or high-stakes disagreements is a challenge best suited for a professional mediator who is well-educated in a variety of social and judicial disciplines. Clients who thoroughly research mediation as a way to forgo court processes are in a great position to spend less money, create less stress and resolve their complaint on their own terms.