Why I, a Lawyer, Decided to Become an Accredited Mediator

As a practising lawyer, my career has been dedicated to advocating for clients, navigating complex legal frameworks, and achieving outcomes within the often-rigid confines of the court system. The practice of law is inherently adversarial: clients rely on us to represent their interests zealously, and the system, by design, often encourages conflict. While there is satisfaction in achieving a favourable judgment, I have long felt that this adversarial model, while necessary in certain circumstances, sometimes overlooks opportunities for more collaborative and lasting resolutions.

Further to my own personal desires following COVID, the length of the litigation process almost doubled overnight. This left clients most unsatisfied and most of them begging for an alternative approach to resolve disputes. As the Tribunal and Courts were also aware of their own delays, they often encouraged mediation and on occasion more than one mediation to encourage the parties to resolve their dispute before the parties spent too much time and money in the legal system. Whilst some may say this is counterproductive for a lawyer, as settling matters is putting oneself out of business, on the other hand, it was rather productive as the client was more satisfied with the outcome because they felt they had more control and input towards the desired outcome as often settlements in a mediation often require further mediation. This is where these clients felt they were more involved in the outcome rather than a third party (member or judge) controlling the outcome.

It was this realisation that led me to explore mediation, and ultimately, to pursue a mediator accreditation. Mediation offers an alternative framework – one where parties are empowered to reach agreements through dialogue rather than confrontation. The idea of helping people find common ground, even in the most challenging disputes, resonated deeply with my values as both a lawyer and a person. Unlike litigation, mediation allows for creative solutions that address the real interests of the parties, not just the legal positions. In my legal practice I often saw cases where clients spent years entangled in disputes that left both sides dissatisfied. Mediation provides a mechanism to break that cycle.

The journey toward becoming an accredited mediator challenged me professionally. Mediation requires a different skill set from traditional legal advocacy. It demands patience, empathy, and the ability to guide parties toward solutions without imposing judgment. While these skills are complementary to the practice of law, they are exercised in a fundamentally different way. As a lawyer I am trained to argue, negotiate and when necessary fight for my client’s rights. As a mediator, my role is to facilitate, to listen deeply, and to assist parties in crafting outcomes that they themselves can embrace. This shift from advocate to neutral facilitator was both intellectually stimulating and personally rewarding.

Accreditation provided formal recognition of my commitment and competence as a mediator. The process deepened my understanding of mediation theory, dispute resolution strategies, and ethical considerations. It equipped me with practical tools for handling complex disputes, managing emotions in the room, and fostering productive dialogue. Now that I am an accredited mediator I have been able integrate mediation into my practice providing clients with a valuable alternative to litigation and enhancing my ability to serve their needs holistically.

Ultimately, my decision to become an accredited mediator stems from a desire to expand the ways in which I can help people resolve disputes. Law is not only about rules and procedures it is about people, relationships, and outcomes that truly matter to those involved. Mediation complements my legal practice by prioritising collaboration, efficiency, and durable solutions. It is deeply satisfying to guide parties toward agreements that they own and understand, and to witness disputes resolved in a way that preserves dignity, relationships, and often, long-term harmony.

In a legal landscape that continues to evolve, the role of mediation is becoming increasingly vital. By combining my legal expertise with mediation skills, I can offer a service that is both principled and practical. Accreditation is not merely a credential it represents a commitment to a more nuanced, empathetic, and effective approach to dispute resolution. For me, it was a natural progression: a lawyer’s knowledge of the law enriched by a mediator’s insight into human interaction, ultimately allowing me to help people achieve meaningful and lasting outcomes.