Choreographing Communication in Mediation
with James C. Melamed
60 Minutes - 1 MCLE General Credit Hour
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Mediation is no longer confined to a single meeting where everyone gathers in the same room. Today’s cases often unfold across face-to-face conversations, video conferences, telephone calls, email exchanges, and shared documents. The challenge is no longer choosing between “in person” and “online.” It is knowing which form of communication will best serve the parties at each stage of the mediation.
In this forward-looking program, Jim explores mediation as a more complex “choreography of communication.” He reviews the synchronous and asynchronous communication options available to mediators and explains how to align each one with the practical and psychological needs of the situation. Early in a mediation, when building trust, developing rapport, and helping parties feel heard are essential, richer real-time communication—such as face-to-face meetings, video, or telephone conversations—may be most effective. Later, when the parties are refining and documenting an agreement, email and track changes may offer greater clarity and efficiency.
Most importantly, participants will gain a practical framework for choosing the right communication method at the right moment. By thoughtfully integrating face-to-face and online communication, mediators can strengthen engagement, respond more effectively to the parties’ changing needs, and guide the process more smoothly from the first conversation through the final agreement.
About the Trainer:
Jim Melamed co-founded Resourceful Internet Solutions (RIS) and Mediate.com in 1996. Before this, Jim founded The Mediation Center in Eugene, Oregon in 1983 and served as Executive Director of the national Academy of Family Mediators from 1987 to 1993. Jim is past-Chair of the Oregon Dispute Resolution Commission and a member of the Oregon State Bar. Jim teaches Mediation at the Pepperdine University School of Law's Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution.
Jim was the first President and Executive Director of the Oregon Mediation Association (1985) and received the OMA's 2003 Award for Excellence. He Received the Oregon State Bar Dispute Resolution Section's 2006 Sidney Lezak Award of Excellence and the 2007 John Haynes Distinguished Mediator Award from the Association for Conflict Resolution. Jim's undergraduate degree is in psychology, with honors, from Stanford University and his law degree is from the University of Oregon.
What people are saying about this course:
“Great combination of theory along with answers to actual practical problems.”
- Bob Andersen, Andersen Mediations, Riverside, CA
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“This course will change your approach to mediation forever.
Find the time to take this program it will change your practice.”
- Gregg Hovey, Hovey & Associates, San Diego, CA
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“This course was a unique combination of inspiring and practical.
Thank you for teaching it like it is.”
– Arianna Jeret, Arianna Jeret Mediation – Redondo Beach, CA
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Please note that all store orders are manually processed during regular working hours. Please allow up to 72 hours to receive your access code that will permit you to access your downloads. An email will be sent to the email address you use in the above purchase with a link and access code.
The American Institute of Mediation certifies that this activity is approved for California MCLE credit. This activity qualifies for 1 total MCLE credit hour. This activity is offered as self-study credit.
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