About the Society

EDUCATION | FREE TRAINING | MEDIATION

Mediation is a force for good in this country and the world at large. Practitioners and users recognise its near universal benefits across wide areas of human and corporate disputes, difficulties, and conflict.

It is seen as an important adjunct to civil and in some cases criminal justice. In family law and community relations mediation is a major tool for beneficial change and reconciliation or resolution. 

However, the availability of mediation, and knowledge and understanding of it, remains well below its proper place in public awareness – or indeed in the minds of professionals and government. Some still fear the use of mediation shows weakness or a lack of determination to press on regardless. It is a ‘tree-hugging’ option when chainsaws are needed to cut down the opposition in the mindset of those litigators.

It was from knowledge of these issues that the Society of Mediators was born…

The Society of Mediators(SoM), a registered charity, was formed in 2012 with the aim of changing this, of advancing public education and promoting for the public benefit the use of mediation as a real alternative to litigation in conflict resolution. It also aims to deliver the Free Mediation Project providing access to mediation which is free at the point of use to those who would not otherwise be able to access it through conventional providers. Finally SoM aims to offer information, training, and awareness within the legal profession with the aim of effecting a seed change in the approach to conflict.

Having already run a number of successful courses for Law Students and for Law Firms with a commitment to pro bono mediation schemes. The Society of Mediators was delighted to announce that it will be extending its Mediation Training Programme for 2017 to include a wider range of courses and to open these to bookings from the general public.