tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365527641763427790.post7259740478954699506..comments2024-03-27T06:20:13.644-04:00Comments on The Red Velvet Lawyer: Preparing the Client for MediationThe Red Velvet Lawyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14898390294545305035noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365527641763427790.post-17500749292680707952013-09-26T07:50:55.718-04:002013-09-26T07:50:55.718-04:00Mediation is the process where we and our spouse a...Mediation is the process where we and our spouse and a mediator enter into an agreement to mediate.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.barclaydevere.co.uk/family-mediation-mediators/" rel="nofollow">family mediation</a> & <a href="http://www.barclaydevere.co.uk/mediation-costs/" rel="nofollow">Cost family mediation</a>Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10666514021210244508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365527641763427790.post-6683874731550845612013-06-19T11:20:05.385-04:002013-06-19T11:20:05.385-04:00I responded to this commentor privately thanking h...I responded to this commentor privately thanking him or her for the comments. As one of my earlier posts mentioned, lawyers have a spectrum of attitudes towards mediation -- from true believer to a belief that it undermines our system of justice. <br /><br />I plan to use this comment at the next conference of the Virginia Mediation Network, where I am giving a program on the Myths and Misrepresentations About Mediation.The Red Velvet Lawyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14898390294545305035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365527641763427790.post-66403022696443557842013-06-18T16:15:49.933-04:002013-06-18T16:15:49.933-04:00As a hiring partner at a major law firm, I wanted ...As a hiring partner at a major law firm, I wanted to take a moment to say that I'm confused by this "preparation" of which you speak. <br /><br />I'm not impressed with "mediation" at all. The last thing our clients need is someone wearing Birkenstocks showing up with djembe drums and rainsticks telling us how we need to "feel" about the next hostile takeover or antitrust suit they're facing. I'm sure it works for SOME people, but in the end our clientele need us to fix their problems without incurring extra loss to the bottom line. That's why they call us. <br /><br />You want to know how we "Prepare" clients for mediation? We bring in stuffed dolls and tell then to point to where it hurts--then we bash an associate in the exact same spot with a stick that has the firm's logo engraved on it. Okay, so we don't do that anymore. We used to, though, before the days of things like "workers' compensation" and "human rights" got in the way. <br /><br />Actually, we "prepare" our clients by letting them know they'll be charged another $600 an hour for anywhere from four to eighteen hours as we all sit in a boardroom arguing over which is the final draft of subsection eighteen in the Revised Agreement. If I'm feeling particularly generous, I'll send a few associates to the client's office with those special gloves cage fighters wear and have them duke it out for the client's amusement. <br /><br />The bottom line is this: We are important. The client is important. Our time is money. So is theirs. All of this "mediation" nonsense would work itself out if we just took the rainsticks you mediators bring to your sessions and had associates beat each other to death with them. <br /><br />At least it would make things more entertaining. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to billing. This little comment cost a client $250. I'll send you the bill. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com