Many people involved in legal disputes prefer to resolve their differences in a meeting room instead of court… to save costs or maintain a more informal, flexible atmosphere. Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators facilitate dialogue between disputing parties… to help resolve conflicts without entering a court room. Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators hold private hearings to clarify the issues and interests of all involved, and encourage parties to find areas of mutual agreement. Though closely related, the three work somewhat differently: Arbitrators hear and decide disputes. They are usually attorneys, retired judges, or business professionals with expertise in a particular field. Their cases may be legally —or voluntarily— referred for arbitration. Mediators are neutral parties who facilitate discussions to reach a satisfactory agreement. If no agreement is reached… they may choose different options… often the court system. Conciliators are similar to mediators, except that they typically meet with the parties separately, and then make recommendations. Most arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators work full time, in either legal services, government, or non-profit organizations, and may travel to different sites for negotiations. Most people who work in these fields have education in another field, such as law or business management, or experience in an industry related to the dispute. Advanced degrees or certificates in dispute or conflict resolution may qualify candidates for some positions.
What they do:
Facilitate negotiation and conflict resolution through dialogue. Resolve conflicts outside of the court system by mutual consent of parties involved.
On the job, you would:
Use mediation techniques to facilitate communication between disputants, to further parties' understanding of different perspectives, and to guide parties toward mutual agreement.
Confer with disputants to clarify issues, identify underlying concerns, and develop an understanding of their respective needs and interests.
Prepare settlement agreements for disputants to sign.
Arts and Humanities
English language
Math and Science
psychology
Safety and Government
law and government
Business
customer service
Basic Skills
listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
talking to others
Problem Solving
noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Social
bringing people together to solve differences
talking people into changing their minds or their behavior
Verbal
communicate by speaking
communicate by writing
Ideas and Logic
make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information
use rules to solve problems
People interested in this work like activities that include helping people, teaching, and talking.
They do well at jobs that need:
Integrity
Self Control
Stress Tolerance
Dependability
Attention to Detail
Concern for Others
You might use software like this on the job:
Spreadsheet software
Microsoft Excel
Electronic mail software
Microsoft Outlook
Enterprise resource planning ERP software
SAP
Get started on your career:
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.
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