By Karl Hoerr -
The Law Society of NSW has announced its own accreditation scheme for lawyer mediators.
President Brett McGrath announced the creation of the Lawyer Mediator Accreditation Scheme (LMA Scheme) at the Law Society’s Annual Conference in Sydney.
McGrath said dispute resolution was core business for lawyers.
“That means a background in the legal profession provides a layer of analytical skills that is not a given for other mediators,” he said.
McGrath said the Law Society’s new scheme will be thorough.
“The LMA Scheme sets rigorous standards requiring lawyer mediators to have completed comprehensive mediation training from an accredited provider, as well as being subject to ongoing additional professional development requirements to ensure their mediation skills and knowledge are up to date,” he said.
Chair of the Law Society’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Committee Gary Ulman said the scheme will encompass the existing, strict ethical obligations for lawyers, and the problem-solving experience they bring to mediation as legal practitioners.
“When people have a serious problem to solve, they need the confidence that the mediator they have chosen is a dispute resolution expert, and is also legally accountable for their conduct during the mediation process,” said Ulman.
Solicitor members of the Law Society who are currently accredited as mediators will be eligible to apply for accreditation under the scheme and will be required to renew their accreditation every two years.
