Best Careers 2009: Mediator

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Where is the best place to seek an education in mediation if you do not posess a college degree?
I'm willing to travel so please adivse based on knowledge and not personal opinion or sentiment.
Thanks.

Stacy of IL 6:03PM August 11, 2011

It is difficult to get a mediation practice started when the consumers do not fully understand the benefits of mediation.
Thanks for your article.
Karen Matcke Crosby
925-831-4888

Karen Crosby of CA 3:22PM August 09, 2011

I have been a tv producer for a decade. I am burnt out and ready to switch careers. I have excellent communication skills and I think I connect very fast with people of all shapes, sizes, ethnicities, communities, ages..whoever. I am also very lucky people automatically trust me with their personal issues.
I genuinely believe I`d make an excellent mediator.
How do I begin?
I live in India and I do not have the resources or time to study mediation.
Any suggestions?

Aparna 1:12PM December 12, 2010

In the state of Florida, in order to be a state certified family or circuit court mediator, you must have a masters degree. It's on a points system: Masters 30 points - + 40 hour course 30 points - mentorship 60 points. Each time you do the mentorship with a licensed mediator you get 5 points. It could take years before you get to 100 points total. Finding a mentor is not so easy. It's not easy to be a mediator. It's a great career but you must have the education to make it in the field. If you're already an attorney, it's easier to become a mediator. County mediators do not require that much education, but they don't make money in this field due to their limited education level. The cost for these trainings could range from $500 for county training to $1000 for family and circuit court mediator training. Find out more on www.flcourts.org then go to mediation.

Nmg of FL 10:15PM November 03, 2010

I've been in the business world for over 10 years and I always thought that mediators were required to be lawyers. I have been in mediation twice and both mediators were lawyers and charged $1,500-2,000/day in fees. Would it be difficult to get clients if you were not a lawyer and would the client feel comfortable with you having a non-legal background? Obviously you would not have to charge that same daily fee but would clients listen or put value in your mediation advice if you were not a lawyer?

Rick R of TX 9:33PM September 10, 2010

Sad to hear its a tough market and income. Was hoping it was someting that I could do with my batchelors degree in Human Resource. I have interest but probably not the needed skill to put myself on top of the compitition. Its probably one of the most interesting parts of HR though. It will alway be a toss up between having an interest in an occupation and doing something that is needed.

Andrew Burtis of UT 8:03PM September 10, 2010

I have recently earned my masters in Conflict Resolution and have found that it is almost impossible to get into the field without a law degree. For over 20 years I have taught in public schools and within the past seven years I have had to decipher through pages of documents that truly do not have the child's interest as a priority! This is one reason that I decided to return to school to work on a masters.

Ruthie Keyes of TX 12:59AM August 09, 2010

Most of the experts quoted in this article specialize in divorce mediation including Woody Mosten. I believe that is and elder law are the two areas where the public will actively seek out mediation as an alternative to the ligitigation process.
Probably the best source for information on mediation is http://www.mediate.com. In the article I submitted to the site entitled "A 12 Step Approach to Enhancing Your Alternate Dispute Resolution Practice" (http://www.mediate.com//articles/jessani.cfm), STEP 1 is: DON'T QUIT YOUR DAY JOB without understanding the cost! Mediators can make a living... but it takes time to build a practice... and therefore money in the bank!

Anju D. Jessani of NJ 2:09PM June 29, 2010

so idk what to say is like cool and awesome about stuff that i learn alot so hehe bye

carla of ME 11:37AM May 19, 2010

Thanks to Marty Nemko for this interesting article. I practiced mediation (and continue so to do) in the San Francisco Bay Area for many years, initially as a volunteer and then later as a paid professional. From that perspective, I endorse the many reader comments that point out the necessity of treating a mediation practice as a business, not a moral crusade. It's fine to love what you do, but you also have to compete in a challenging marketplace.
Until mediators start to think like businesspeople, mediation will remain marginalized, confined to the shadow of its more established counterpart, litigation. Mediators' collective decision to absent themselves from the conflict resolution marketplace has had two deleterious effects. First, it has allowed litigation to dominate, even in the many situations where mediation would have provided a superior resolution process. Second, it has diminished mediators' self-esteem and self-confidence, both of which are reflections of the economic power that mediators command.
For anyone interested and with this sentiment in mind, I wrote the book "Mediating for Money" (available via www.careermediator.net). It's a practical guide with specific, clear, and actionable advice to support mediators in every aspect of building a profitable mediation practice. It's also an exhortation — a call to mediators to awaken from our slumber, to conquer our inhibitions, and compete in the conflict resolution marketplace.
Anyone who has ever practiced mediation knows its almost magical power. I am deeply thankful to those who formalized the mediation process and who shared with me their mastery so that I too may practice and deliver value to people in conflict. At the same time, I demand to be paid well for my services. Remember, the creation of economic wealth is not an impediment to social justice. It is a means to achieve it.

Paul of CA 12:13PM May 13, 2010