Career Path in Mediation

A surfer asks:

I am relocating back to Texas, in particular Austin, and am seeking a career path in mediation. Your suggestions in this regard would be greatly appreciated. I have a background of having been on a large board of REALTORS as the chair of committees involving dispute resolution and feel your training would be excellent as a step towards a mediation career. Thank you for any information you can share. Enjoy your day!

Kris Responds:

Welcome back to Texas! A lot of realtors take our Mediator Training Course since mediation is so prominent in both real estate contract law and the reliance on negotiation in the field is so prevalent. I highly recommend the course for anyone brokering between the public and any service or goods. As a career move, it will be imperative to establish marketing contacts with those entities most likely to encounter conflict referrals in your chosen field. Without the specialty niche (e.g. historical home specialist), the average citizen will talk to a lawyer who will refer to an attorney mediator without necessarily thinking of another specialty. Very few mediations are first person referred. That is, very few people have a conflict and then go to the hone book and call a mediator. Most of the cases come from an agency, case management system, the legal community or finally a court. There are some successful non-attorney mediators because of their reputation and liason with other referral sources. Talking with them might be a good idea.

However, being a mediator adds to your resume an element considered desireous by any future employer and the life skills gained are invaluable. I hope to see you in one of our courses.