Virtual Mediation--Alternative Dispute Resolution has moved (kicking and screaming) into the virtual world. My firm has handled over a dozen virtual mediations and arbitrations in the past few weeks and here is what we have learned: -Virtual mediation can work. During lockdown, with the courts out of commission, attorneys have time to mediate. You can prep your clients, remotely of course, and write up pre-mediation statements to submit to the Mediator. One obstacle to mediation is just scheduling the darn thing. We spend valuable time trying to juggle the crazed schedules many attorneys and parties keep (or at least used to keep pre-pandemic.) So that obstacle is now gone; we can actually get the mediation on the calendar. -The Process is the same, but different. Zoom allows for private breakout rooms so we can separate out and have confidential conversations. It’s not flawless and take...
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