- Written by marc bhalla marc bhalla
- Published: 21 February 2021 21 February 2021
is mediation mandatory?
in this day + age, from a practical perspective, the answer is yes in the majority of cases. sometimes the law, an agreement or governing document requires that a dispute be submitted to mediation before it proceeds to a decision maker. even when that is not the case, parties are often encouraged to try to work collaboratively to address their conflict.
- Written by marc bhalla marc bhalla
- Published: 22 June 2021 22 June 2021
what if we can't decide on a mediator?
first, consider why you are going to mediation. if an agreement or law requires it, there may be a mediator appointment mechanism in place to help. if you are mediating voluntarily + in good faith, you really should be able to agree on a mediator. if not, there are some options available to you.
- Written by marc bhalla marc bhalla
- Published: 14 February 2021 14 February 2021
can i represent myself at mediation?
absolutely. i have a great deal of experience mediating with self-represented parties.
- Written by marc bhalla marc bhalla
- Published: 14 February 2021 14 February 2021
is a mediator a lawyer?
no. some mediators are trained as lawyers + many have law degrees (like i have a master of laws in dispute resolution) but the job of a lawyer + the job of a mediator are very different.
- Written by marc bhalla marc bhalla
- Published: 23 February 2021 23 February 2021
should i prepare for mediation?
yes. to get the most out of the mediation opportunity, you should absolutely prepare for mediation.
- Written by marc bhalla marc bhalla
- Published: 17 September 2021 17 September 2021
how do your flat rates work?
they apply my hourly rate to the typical duration of a mediation + i don't worry if we go slightly* into overtime.
- Written by marc bhalla marc bhalla
- Published: 13 September 2021 13 September 2021
do you still mediate in-person?
the ongoing uncertainty surrounding covid-19 prevents me from offering a set answer to this one, i am sorry to say. the pendulum has swung back + forth on what is appropriate throughout the course of the pandemic.
- Written by marc bhalla marc bhalla
- Published: 14 February 2021 14 February 2021
why can't you guarantee settlement?
the superficial answer to this question is that the regulations that i have volunteered to subject myself to in this unregulated field do not allow me to promise the resolution of any dispute through mediation. the more meaningful answer is that mediation is all about self-determination, so whether or not a mediation results in settlement is not my call.
- Written by marc bhalla marc bhalla
- Published: 02 November 2021 02 November 2021
what is asynchronous mediation?
it is a form of mediation that is quite different to the traditional method of mediation, where everyone gathers at the same time + place (online or in-person).
asynchronous mediation is a process that has participants take part at their convenience, at different times than others.
- Written by marc bhalla marc bhalla
- Published: 29 June 2021 29 June 2021
what if the other party doesn't show up?
my first inclination is to preach patience. i have had several mediations where a party has arrived a little bit late. while some consider it rude to be late, there can be factors beyond one's control (such as a tech issue) that create an issue.
- Written by marc bhalla marc bhalla
- Published: 22 July 2021 22 July 2021
does arbitrating make you a better mediator?
absolutely! i was not sure that it would when i started getting involved in decision making but it really has.
read more of... does arbitrating make you a better mediator?
- Written by marc bhalla marc bhalla
- Published: 14 February 2021 14 February 2021
what do you mean settlement offers are confidential?
the purpose of settlement discussions can be confusing. in some cases, making an offer to settle can be important to secure your best chance of cost recovery if the dispute ultimately has to be determined by a third party decision maker. at mediation, settlement offers disappear if they are not accepted. i like to say they evaporate.
read more of... what do you mean settlement offers are confidential?
- Written by marc bhalla marc bhalla
- Published: 17 September 2021 17 September 2021
what payment methods do you accept?
pretty much all, but for cash.
- Written by marc bhalla marc bhalla
- Published: 28 October 2021 28 October 2021
i would like you to mediate, what are my next steps?
typically, there are 2 key next steps to take...
(1) suggesting mediation to others involved in the dispute + proposing me as the mediator*
(2) identifying those involved in the dispute to me, so i can run a conflict search + ensure i can help
*some situations already have guidelines in place around proposing mediation + mediator selection. it may be worth checking first.
read more of... i would like you to mediate, what are my next steps?
- Written by marc bhalla marc bhalla
- Published: 31 December 2021 31 December 2021
why don't you share testimonials?
i do not publish or share testimonials because the mediations i conduct are confidential in nature.
in that light, i am not comfortable violating the spirit of confidentiality by identifying my clients for my own self promotion.
in turn, you can take comfort that i will not identify you publicly if you become my client.
- Written by marc bhalla marc bhalla
- Published: 14 February 2021 14 February 2021
can i get a transcript of the mediation?
no. mediation is a confidential process. what is stated during it should not be recorded, but for terms of settlement.
- Written by marc bhalla marc bhalla
- Published: 13 September 2021 13 September 2021
what are the benefits of mediating online?
the biggest is value for your time + money.
- Written by marc bhalla marc bhalla
- Published: 10 May 2021 10 May 2021
what is your mediation style?
let me first explain the question to anyone who is not sure what it means... if the adr lingo section of this site were expanded upon, it would likely include terms like "facilitative", "evaluative" + "transformational" in describing forms of mediation. these are terms used to describe the focus of the mediator in the mediation process + the type of role they play in it.
while i will expand upon these "styles" of mediation below, my answer to the question is that i have no set style.
i am flexible + adapt to the needs of my clients.
in my experience, it is next to impossible for anyone to know what "style" of mediation will best suit them throughout the process in advance. there may be benefits to certain approaches based on how the mediation plays out. as a result, this consideration in advance of a mediation is usually more theoretical than practical. i encourage reflecting through the style of mediation one identifies as their preference, as this can help clarify what they want to get out of the process.
- Written by marc bhalla marc bhalla
- Published: 16 August 2021 16 August 2021
do i need to be vaccinated to mediate?
no. as we mediate online, your vaccination status is not of concern to the process.
- Written by marc bhalla marc bhalla
- Published: 14 February 2021 14 February 2021
how can i get the mediator on my side?
mediators are netural + impartial. they cannot impose an outcome. the role of the mediator is to help generate options, challenge positions + develop an understanding of how underlying interests at the table can practically be addressed. if you focus on getting the mediator "on your side" rather than working with others involved in your dispute, you risk failing to make the most out of the mediation opportunity.
- Written by marc bhalla marc bhalla
- Published: 20 October 2021 20 October 2021
can you mediate anything?
no. there are some situations where mediation is not appropriate + others where you would be better off with another mediator.
- Written by marc bhalla marc bhalla
- Published: 14 March 2021 14 March 2021
how soon can i mediate?
i recommend a minium of two weeks from the time that parties involved in a conflict agree to take part in mediation until the mediation meeting. this offers time for preparation + to comfortably address what is needed to formally retain me.
- Written by marc bhalla marc bhalla
- Published: 24 September 2021 24 September 2021
what are your operating hours?
mediation is usually scheduled for a set duration; a half-day (3 hours) or a full day (6 hours). sometimes, if there is momentum as the scheduled time expires, overtime is needed. as a result, i do not really have set operating hours.
traditionally, most mediations start at 10am or 1pm. i have conducted evening mediations + mediations that have started at unique times. it really comes down to the availability of participants.
- Written by marc bhalla marc bhalla
- Published: 14 February 2021 14 February 2021
is mediating online as good as mediating in-person?
no. it is better.
read more of... is mediating online as good as mediating in-person?
- Written by marc bhalla marc bhalla
- Published: 31 December 2021 31 December 2021
you are one of a few mediators suggested to mediate my dispute. why should i choose you to mediate?
the chances are that i am included in the list of proposed mediators you have received because of the reputation i have established in the field or through a referral from someone who had a good experience at a mediation i facilitated.
if you would like to consider me as the mediator of your dispute, i would encourage you to contact me so i can understand what you hope to achieve through mediation + explain how i can help.
- Written by marc bhalla marc bhalla
- Published: 20 February 2021 20 February 2021
who pays for mediation?
the most common approach is for parties to equally split the cost of mediation unless they are able to negotiate different arrangements in the course of mediating. however, this is not the only way that payment arrangements can be made.