Distanced but not Distant: Connecting through Online Mediation

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Distanced but not Distant: Connecting through Online Mediation

In a blink of an eye the world of mediation changed. First, the hand-shaking stopped. Then, people weren’t sitting close to each other in joint sessions. Finally, and wisely, we stopped holding in-person mediations altogether. Mediators who prized their ability to interact personally with people were now doing crash courses in Zoom and trying to figure out how to work with new technology. We wondered how a craft founded on understanding, empathy and connection could survive if we were peering at people through computer screens.

We are not all the way there, but I can report this: 

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Essential Dispute Resolution

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The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting all of us in ways we did not expect. For those involved in litigation, we are entering difficult and uncertain times, with courts limiting their services and jury trials on hold.

Mediation is more important than ever. We are transitioning from “alternative” dispute resolution to “essential” dispute resolution. If, for concerns of public safety, the courts cannot provide timely and predictable ways to resolve disputes, mediators must make this happen, safely, securely and effectively.

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