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Mediation Lawyers in the COVID-19 Crisis

Many businesses have massively reduced their hours and output, and others have been forced to close completely. The legal profession was forced to look for more creative ways to be able to do business and mediation lawyers have been turning to technology to help keep on top of their alternative dispute resolution workload.<br>

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Mediation Lawyers in the COVID-19 Crisis

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  1. Online Tools are the New Norm for Mediation Lawyers in the COVID-19 Crisis

  2. The COVID-19 pandemic caused chaos across the globe as corporate and industry bosses scrambled to diversify how they do business to keep themselves in the game. Many businesses have massively reduced their hours and output, and others have been forced to close completely. The legal profession was forced to look for more creative ways to be able to do business and mediation lawyers have been turning to technology to help keep on top of their alternative dispute resolution workload.

  3. According to Law.com, mediation lawyers have been using video software like Zoom, BlueJeans, WebEx, Samba and Lifesize to try to keep on top of cases and carry out what firms are calling ‘virtual mediation’ or ‘remote attendance mediation’.

  4. Day to day work cannot be put on hold indefinitely due to the crisis, so the use of these platforms has meant that parties could maintain social distancing, protect everyone from infection and carry on with business as usual.

  5. Legal teams have been using online meeting software for many years to cut down on travel expenses, but it has not been as common for mediation as this form of legal work very much relies on the different parties coming together to resolve their conflict or disputes.

  6. As most of the platforms now have break out rooms, this is what mediators are using to be able to host different parties in different online rooms. This means that there can be a group discussion and the opportunity for the clients and their lawyers to talk privately. The mediator can go in between the different meeting rooms as necessary.

  7. Skeptics criticize that the whole point of mediation is to be able to read body language and mood in the same room as the parties and raised concerns about security. But many lawyers stand firm that a good mediator can still pick up on facial expressions and any visual signs through video calls.

  8. Just since the pandemic breakout, the technology has been increased to introduce mandatory passwords for attendees and features like waiting rooms, so only people who are allowed on the call can actually gain access. The truth is, online mediation sessions are helping mediators to become even more efficient with their time.

  9. The founding father of online dispute resolution Colin Rule has been named as President and CEO of Mediate.com this week. The former PayPal and eBay online mediation expert has taken up the post at a poignant time for online mediation in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis. Mediate.com has one of the most comprehensive online libraries of dispute resolution resources. Mr Rule said that he was looking to help businesses and organizations across the world to take what they have learned from online resolution during the pandemic and evolve it to the next level over the next 10 years.

  10. As the world emerges out of lockdown in the COVID-19 crisis, business bosses are predicting an unprecedented need for mediation as companies struggle with cashflow, contract fulfilment and delivery. Companies are being urged to consider using a mediation lawyer when disputes arise to iron out the differences in a more amicable manner.

  11. The corona virus crisis has changed the way people run their lives and behave. Many have been isolated for long periods. Others have lost their jobs and are struggling to pay the bills and to feed their families. The impact of these factors on their mental health is dramatic. It has made many very wary of who they are meeting, what interaction they are having and whether they will spread the disease as a result of meeting others outside their family and friends’ network.

  12. Some might have to consider the use of public transport during this crisis period and whether they want to expose themselves to this risk. And if parties are in different states or cities, then it makes it even harder to travel with restrictions in place.

  13. These stresses add to the pressure someone would be suffering from the conflict they are trying to resolve, so online mediation opportunities eradicate those other factors we have come to consider in this new ‘normality’. Online mediation is giving people the flexibility and peace of mind to resolve their conflicts and disputes in a timely fashion and limit the stress and anxiety that comes with it.

  14. Contact details Lichtblau Law Office Address: 499 Wilson Heights Blvd, Toronto,ON, M3H 2V7 Phone: 416-633-2465 Fax: 416-398-3369 Website: https://lichtblaulaw.com/mediation/

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