Mediation Theory and Practice (Legal Text Series)

Designed for use in a full-semester law school course on mediation or as a coursebook for clinical and mediator training programmes, this text is a comprehensive guide to the growing field of mediation, combining theoretical, practical and policy perspectives. Classic mediation and negotiation topics and techniques are presented from a fresh perspective. The authors weave together excerpts from the key books and articles, relevant cases, statutes, rules and regulations to provide a systematic look at the historical background, theory, ethics and policy underlying mediation in the United States. They also provide practice guidance for mediators. Substantial attention is devoted to negotiation theory, to issues of mediator roles and styles, and to critical issues related to mediator behaviour including diversity, fairness and power concerns. The book embraces and encourages class discussion of the emerging and hotly debated issues relating to mediation. Some of the topics examined in detail include: mediator certification and suggested approaches to certification; the debate regarding facilitative, evaluative and transformative approaches to mediation; critiques of mediation based on fairness and diversity concerns; the appropriate scope of confidentiality and privilege provisions; conflicts of interest and mediator impartiality; expedited enforcement of mediated agreements; disputes over whether there should be an obligation to mediate in good faith; the role of lawyers in the mediation process; and the impact of institutionalizing mediation processes, particularly in the court context. An entire chapter is devoted to identifying and discussing fundamental mediator performance skills and strategies. Breaking mediation down into its fundamental components, this chapter walks the student through the dynamics and challenges that a mediator confronts when executing each process segment. In doing so it also helps students understand how, as advocates, they can most effectively use a mediator's services to achieve their client's goals. While focusing primarily on a facilitative practice approach to mediation, the chapter also discusses how evaluative and transformative approaches would differ. Exercises and practice simulations presented within the teacher's manual can be used to enhance the chapter. Finally, in the concluding chapters the readers are given a sense of the many contexts in which mediation is currently being used and the anticipated future and career opportunities of this burgeoning field.