Mediation Week 2012

Today marks the start of the American Bar Association's (ABA) celebration of "Mediation Week".  For the past number of years, the ABA has set aside a week to recognize and celebrate the growth of ADR.  In support of Mediation Week 2012, the ABA has created special a link on its website with incredible resources, available at no cost.  In promoting Mediation Week 2012, the ABA states:

"The ABA Mediation Week initiative is a celebration of the strides we have made in institutionalizing mediation as one of several appropriate dispute resolution  processes.

ABA Mediation Week will be held during the week of October 14-20, 2012 this year.

The theme for our 2012 ABA Mediation Week [is] “Mediation in the Mainstream.” Lawyers and mediators from the court house to the conference room are increasingly using alternative means to settle disputes.  In their use of mediation, practitioners are shedding light on an important method of resolving personal, commercial, government, and community disputes."

While here in Canada we are not doing anything formal to mark Mediation Week 2012, the ADR Section of the Canadian Bar Association (CBA) is looking to all provincial sections to contemplate and plan similar activities for a CBA Mediation Week in 2013.  Here in Ontario, those interested in getting an early start on 2013 can provide suggestions, ideas and comments to  Elizabeth Hyde, Chair, OBA ADR Section at elizabeth@riverdalemediation.com.

As part of the ABA's marking of Mediation Week 2012, the ABA has provided a tremendous toolkit of resources to assist organizations and individuals in promoting mediation and Mediation Week.  The toolkit includes three comprehensive and professionally assembled "Mediation Guides" to help parties participate in mediation as productively as possible. There is a General Mediation Guide, a Family Mediation Guide and a Complex Mediation Guide for parties represented by lawyers in more complex civil disputes.  There is wealth of other material in the toolkit, including videos, training exercises for primary school and university level students, professional conduct materials and mediation ethics opinions.

Happy Mediation Week!