MEDIATION

Mediation is a speedy and effective way of settling disputes without the need to go to court. It involves a mediator (i.e. an independent third party) who facilitates a conversation between the parties with a view to better understand the differences between them and come to an agreement. This course introduces students to the core principles and values underpinning the contemporary practice of mediation. Students learn to appreciate mediation as a flexible process that can be used to settle disputes in a whole range of situations (e.g. consumer disputes, contract disputes, family disputes, workplace disputes). The course provides a critical comparison of mediation with other dispute resolution processes enabling students to identify the most appropriate process for a given dispute situation.