Contents
1. Introduction
2. Licensing or certification of mediators
3. The level of earnings of professional consultants
4. Training and education needed for becoming a mediator and the necessity of
taking a training course
5. The necessity of being a lawyer or having a law degree to become a mediator
6. Gaining mediation ability and skills
7. Getting a job of a mediator and getting paid
8. Conclusion
9. Resources
Introduction
In recent years the profession of a mediator is getting to be more and more
popular. Obviously, it is not simply a trend of the contemporary epoch but rather
an objective necessity that stimulates people to focus their attention on mediation
when choosing their profession. At the same time, it is also noteworthy that
mediation may be also very helpful for those who have decided to change their
job and start a new one since it is never late to become a mediator and the
more professional experience in different fields an individual has the better
it is for his professional work as a mediator.
On the other hand, it is also necessary to take into consideration the position
and interests of those who use the services offered by mediators. Traditionally,
mediators to a certain extent replace courts which were always referred to when
different conflict could not be resolved by their participants. In such a situation,
it is quite natural that the opposing parties in conflicts more readily refer
to mediator to resolve their problem efficiently and profitably for all participants
than turn their views to courts with their bureaucracy and often quite a low
efficiency. Anyway, it is believed that often both parties appealing to a court
remain unsatisfied with the outcome of the trial, while mediators can lead them
to a plausible solution which could be acceptable for all participants.
In such a way, the current world cannot simply normally exist without the growing
role of mediators since conflicts are getting to occur more often and are more
complicated. This is why the help of professional mediator is often needed.
As a result, it is very important to clearly realize how one can become a mediator,
what education, training, skills and abilities he/she must have, and what is
more how he/she can work really efficiently that will be profitable for clients
as well as for the mediator him-/herself.
Licensing or certification of mediators
Licensing and certification of mediators is a very important point in the career
of any successful mediator. Moreover, it is even possible to estimate that this
is a starting point of a career of a professional mediator. At the same time,
it is necessary to point out that there are a variety of possibilities to get
license or certificate of a professional mediator.
Nowadays, educational establishments and companies operating in the field of
education often suggest a variety of courses with the further certification
of a professional mediator but it is necessary to remember that, as a rule,
an applicant should receive qualification through State Court Administrative
Office (SCAO) approved training or Association for Conflict Resolution training.
Naturally, it is possible to be certificated otherwise through receiving education
or training in a University, for instance, it is possible to get certain degree
but still the license or certificate of a professional mediator provided by
one of the authoritative institutions mentioned above is highly recommended
of not to say is essential. In fact, such a certificate is an essential condition
on which an individual may work as a professional mediator and work successfully.
Naturally, it is possible to remain uncertified and make attempts in the field
of mediation but not a single respectable company, organization, or even personality
would appeal to such a mediator for assistance. It is obvious that the possession
of a certificate of a professional mediator provided by SCAO or ACR is essential
because they primarily create the positive image of a mediator for his/her clients.
At the same time, it is also necessary to pay attention to the fact that licensing
and certification contributes to the professional growth of a mediator because
he/she has to pass through a course of training and, consequently, he/she is
educated and in such a situation certification means a kind of reward for his/her
efforts to gain more success and improve his/her professionalism.
The level of earnings of professional consultants
The questions of earnings is probably the first question an individual willing
to enter a new profession is asking for but the answer to this question is not
as simple as it may seem to be. The problem is that it is necessary to take
into consideration a variety of factors which influence the level of earnings
of each individual mediator in particular. This is why it is hardly possible
to name a definite sum of money as a norm of earnings for a mediator.
In fact there is practically no minimum for mediators’ earning. Nonetheless,
it should be said that while assessing the earnings of a mediator it is necessary
to pay attention to several factors. First of all, it is the professional level
of a mediator. It means that the job experience is extremely important for a
mediator and there is no surprise that an experienced mediator earns more, significantly
more, than an inexperienced one. At the same time, experience means not only
years spent in this business but also a number of cases and their quality. What
is meant here is the fact that a mediator may deal with a variety of conflicts
that are quite simple to resolve while it is also possible to have, among the
variety of routing conflicts, a few but very complicated ones which actually
contribute to a mediator’s experience and increase his/her professionalism.
Furthermore, the level of education is also of a paramount importance since
education is the basis for the professional development of any mediator. This
is why education also contributes to higher earnings of a mediator. Though education
alone is useless if there is no natural skills and abilities that each individual
possess and which often cannot be acquired through study at any university in
the whole world.
Finally, it is also important to pay attention to the sphere where a mediator
works. It means that a mediator may work with respectable companies or individuals
and this contributes to his professional level and public image. As a result,
he/she earns more than a mediator working with little companies which are not
widely known even among professionals. Nonetheless, it does not necessarily
mean that the latter cannot earn a lot since it is his/her experience and the
workability that defines the level of his/her earnings.
Anyway, to sum it all up, it is just necessary to briefly mention the possible
level of earnings of a mediator on the basis of some statistics. Basically,
a range of earnings of a mediator may vary dramatically from as little as $700
per day to as much as several thousands of dollars per day. It is not a rare
case when an average mediator earns more than $250.000. For instance, mediators
in the USA earn in excess of this sum per year only working for a few days per
week (Schmitt 2001) and six figure income are also possible on the condition
of hard, professional and reliable work of a mediator. Basically, it is necessary
to remember that, above all, the fee of a mediator is based on number of parties
and length of mediation.
Training and education needed for becoming a professional mediator
As it has been already mentioned above, training and education is highly recommended
for any individual willing to become a professional mediator. At the same time,
it is necessary to remember that any work as a mediator is a good experience
and education for a perspective mediator. It is worthy to note that nowadays
it is possible to find a variety of training course for mediators which often
do not even guarantee licensing or certification by such respectable institutions
as SCAO or ACR but it does not necessarily mean that a mediator or a beginner
in this field does not need any special training.
Obviously, it is possible to start without any serious professional experience
but it is practically impossible to be certified without a training course.
This is why training and education are getting to be synonyms of a mediator’s
professionalism. In such a way, a training course or special education a mediator
received in any educational establishment, including universities, is very important
primarily for his/her good reputation and customers’ respect.
By the way, it is also noteworthy that in recent years the offers of distant
learning and training of mediators via Internet progress dramatically and in
all probability soon their popularity and spread will be extremely high. Such
an alternative to conventional education and training of mediators is very perspective
since often mediators enter this job from other field where they get used to
work but have not managed to realize themselves or which they consider less
perspective.
On the other hand, it is necessary to remember that education and training is
extremely useful for the professional development of a mediator. In this respect,
training is essential, otherwise, a mediator would gradually degrade and his/her
professional level would decrease dramatically. In such a way, training may
serve as a tool for further progress of a mediator.
Nonetheless, it is also worthy to note that it is not obligatory to have special
training or education to become a mediator but still it is necessary to remember
about the fact that, in such a situation, a mediator can basically count for
private practice only. Naturally, such a private mediator practice may be sufficient
for an individual’s survival but is absolutely insufficient if an individual
really wants to become a professional and what is more well paid mediator. In
such a case, special education and training are required because without it
a mediator could hardly be certified and gain public and professional recognition.
Consequently, the possibility of getting a perspective job of a mediator becomes
quite vague and practically unreal.
The necessity of being a lawyer or having a law degree to become a mediator
Erroneously, many people believe that it is obligatory to be a lawyer or at
least have a law degree to become a mediator. In actuality, it is an obvious
mistake and in recent years professionals from absolutely different fields are
entering the job of a mediator. To put it more precisely, the recent trends
reveal the fact that CPA’s, realtors, counselors, clergy, business people
and many other are entering mediation and often become very successful and skillful
mediators (Mohrman 1998). In such a way, it is obvious that mediation is the
job open for representatives of different fields.
Moreover, it is extremely important that a mediator had a rich experience in
a variety of fields since it is very helpful in his/her job as a mediator in
consulting or resolving conflict situations. Consequently, an individual with
different but law job experience can find his/her niche in the market of mediation
services.
Nonetheless, some times law degree is very welcome and even required though
it is impossible to estimate that it is always essential. Basically, these are
the case when a profound knowledge of law and legislative system and principles
are required. Naturally, in such a situation a mediator with a law degree is
more desired than a mediator lacking of such experience.
Anyway, in general mediation is rather focused on individual’s qualities,
abilities, skills, and experience than on his/her law degree.
Gaining mediation ability and skills
It is obvious that education and experience are extremely important for mediation
but it is also important to remember about abilities and skills that a professional
mediator has to develop. It should be pointed out that in general a mediator
can gain abilities and skills from three basic sources.
First of all, it is natural or inherited abilities and skills which an individual
possess. In such a situation, it is possible to speak about innate predisposition
of an individual to such a job as a mediator. It is not a secret that many people
possess such traits of character that are essential for a professional mediator
to the extent that people naturally choose them in different every day situations
as ‘mediators for an hour’. Moreover, the further work as a mediator
may only develop such innate abilities and skills.
Secondly, it is an individual’s professional experience. It has been already
mentioned that mediators enter their jobs from a variety of fields where they
often had to solve conflicts and problems that they naturally faced. In such
a way, willingly or not they had to work as mediators and develop the abilities
and skills required for this job and in the course of time it is due to such
abilities and skills they often decide to change their job for a job of a professional
mediator. At the same time, really professional mediators never stop to develop
their skills and abilities during their work.
Finally, probably the most accessible and widely spread way of gaining mediator’s
abilities and skills are special education and training. Obviously, education
and training may enhance natural abilities and skills of an individual as a
mediator or just mechanically develop such abilities and skills among individuals
who are not naturally predisposed for such a job.
Getting a job of a mediator and getting paid
Naturally, there is no use of skills and abilities of a mediator if they are
not beneficial for a mediator him/herself. This is why it is very important
to find a good job and get paid for this job, especially for a beginning mediator.
On analyzing the perspectives of getting a well paid job of a mediator, it is
necessary to point out that it is very difficult to find such a job if a mediator
works individually. This is why it is traditionally possible to recommend to
find a job in a company dealing with mediation and acquire essential experience
while working for such a company. At the same time, it is obvious that a mediator
will be well paid from the beginning but, if it is a normal or even respectable
company, a beginning mediator is guaranteed to get paid. Consequently, it is
not recommended to start work as a mediator individually for individuals inexperienced
in the field of mediation or other related fields.
On the other hand, it may be a problem to find a company operating in the field
of mediation reliable enough and what is more to get this company hire a beginning
mediator. In this respect, all factors mentioned above are getting to be of
a paramount importance, i.e. education, training courses, past experience, personal
qualities, skills and abilities, etc.
Conclusion
Thus, taking into account all above mentioned, it is possible to conclude that
mediation is getting to be extremely important and the role of this profession
will increase. In such a situation, it is quite easy to enter this job but it
is extremely difficult to become a really professional and successful mediator.
To achieve respect and high earnings, a mediator needs to work and work hard,
constantly progress and learn a lot about mediation. Only when all essential
conditions mentioned above are fulfilled, a mediator can count for a well paid
job.
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