Becoming a commercial mediator?

[H6CJF]

I'm looking into this & just wonder if anyone has any experience in this area who could offer advice...

There are a couple of courses I'm looking at - such as CEDR which, although not cheap, will give me a recognised qualification. Any other recommendations welcome of course

Then of course there is the question of findng work.. I've been self employed for 20 years and very happy to stay that way so I would be looking at either marketing myself or joining a 'chambers'- any experience of how this might go?

I believe my expectations are pretty realistic - I don't expect to be earning a 'proper' income from the off, but that's ok because I will continue with the training business. However, I would like to think that with experience, this is something that could develop and build over the next few years.

Probably worth pointing out that whilst I dont have a legal background, I do have a great deal of experience in coaching, facilitation and even counselling (to a lesser extent)

So, if anyone has any words of advice, encouragement or caution I'm all ears.

Cheers

Chris

Wonder if this should have gone in S.P.&L.???

[will_]

Chris,

The difficulty that I would forsee is that there are a huge number of commercial mediators but only a few really good ones who get work by reputation. Almost all of those have a legal background which means that they are "known" to law-firms when they start out. Without that background I could see you struggling to get your experience off the ground (which is the best marketing you can do).

I think it's an interesting role but difficult for someone with a non-law background to break into.

Best of luck.

[anonymous-user]

The market is full. There are a handful of go to mediators in London, who people with disputes to settle queue up to book, and the others wait a long time in between cases, and usually carry on their legal practices in the meantime.