Professional Mediator vs Mediating Professionally (From Problem Solving Through Mediation, P 98-108, 1984, Maria R Volpe and Thomas F Christian, ed. - See NCJ-96679)

• NCJ Number: 96683
• Author(s): T F Christian
• Date Published: 1984
• Length: 9 pages
• Sale Source: American Bar Assoc
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Edith Primm, an attorney and due process hearing officer for the State of Georgia and the United States Department of Defense, discusses whether mediators should operate professionally or whether mediation should become a profession.

Abstract

Primm contends that choosing to mediate professionally stimulates growth, permanency, and accessibility. She traces the phenomenal growth of mediation throughout the country to the accessibility of the process. If mediators choose to mediate professionally, mediation will become a great personal challenge because mediators will not look to other people's standards or to arbitrary standards set out by a professional organization or a State or national organization. Rather, mediators will have to aspire to excellence and creativity, be accountable, and be diversified. Arguments against the professionalization of mediators center on the limitations of regulation and specialization. Primm urges mediators to beware of and be careful about being too arrogant with the professionals who are beginning to realize that they need mediators. Finally, Primm encourages mediators to remain accessible to the people who need them most.