Assuring Excellence, or Merely Reassuring - Policy and Practice in Promoting Mediator Quality

Mediation practice in the United States has grown substantially over the last two decades, as has the number of people offering to serve as mediators. This growth has led some to argue that competency standards are needed to protect consumers and promote the integrity of mediation processes. While professionals and researchers have tried over the past fifteen years or so to define "what mediators do" and better understand "how to do it well," alternative dispute resolution (ADR) programs, roster administrators, and parties seeking neutrals have had to make day-to-day choices.