LAWYERS IN MEDIATION

WHY WAS BALM FORMED?

THE ROLE OF BALM

HOW EXCLUSIVE IS BALM?

Page 2

MEDIATION
There is a worldwide trend towards the resolution of disputes by means other than litigation. Such are called "alternative dispute resolution". Mediation is becoming the mainstream method of helping people and companies resolve their personal and commercial conflicts. Its use is being encouraged by the courts in the United Kingdom and elsewhere.

THE ADVANTAGES OF MEDIATION
Mediation is faster and more cost effective than adversarial litigation. It has the added advantage of being less traumatic and more private. Parties to mediation in family situations can work through problems and attitudes with the unbiased assistance of a skilled mediator in complete confidentiality and with dignity. Parties can also be reintroduced to a balanced and healthy pattern of working and domestic life more quickly than in the case of protracted adversarial proceedings. Moreover, the impact on children of family problems can be less profound when mediation is used.

Because of its advantages mediation is also becoming increasingly popular in the resolution of disputes by individuals of neighbourhood disputes and in the resolution by companies of financial and labour disputes over a wide spectrum including medical negligence, personal injury, labour and employment disputes.

THE USE OF LAWYERS IN MEDIATION
The British Association of Lawyer Mediators recognises the worldwide trend towards mediation. To be effective in the United Kingdom, however, the process of mediation requires a body of trained mediators.

Lawyers are well equipped by virtue of their skills, knowledge and professional disciplines to mediate and must be encouraged to add mediation to their existing range of professional skills. Lawyers have an important role to play in a number of expanding areas - particularly in the family law sector where mediation will soon be required by statute to be part of the process of divorce.

Return to the top

WHY WAS BALM FORMED?
A prime objective of BALM is to place lawyers at the forefront of mediation in the UK, and to encourage them to be at the forefront of this exciting development in dispute resolution.

BALM is a lawyers’ organisation for lawyers - embracing solicitors, barristers, advocates, judges, district judges, legal executives and paralegals throughout the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands). It covers all aspects of mediation, not just the mediation of family disputes.

THE ROLE OF BALM
If lawyer/mediators are to play a leading role in mediation they must build and set high standards for themselves’. Another objective of BALM is to maintain high professional standards in mediation. Lawyer/mediators will control the regulation and supervision of themselves and will conform in training and case consultation to recognised and accepted criteria.

HOW EXCLUSIVE IS BALM?
Although BALM exists for the advancement of lawyers in mediation, it appreciates that co-operation with non-lawyers in particular areas is essential; for this reason it co-operates with other mediation organisations in the maintenance of high standards in training and in the workplace in the interests of the vocations it represents and for the public generally.

If you wish to contact one of our mediators for a consultation please email us with your request.