Mediation Lawyers in the COVID-19 Crisis

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Online Tools are the New Norm for Mediation
Lawyers in the COVID-19 Crisis
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• The COVID-19 pandemic caused chaos across the
  globe as corporate and industry bosses scrambled
  to diversify how they do business to keep
  themselves in the game.
•  
• Many businesses have massively reduced their
  hours and output, and others have been forced to
  close completely. The legal profession was forced
  to look for more creative ways to be able to do
  business and mediation lawyers have been turning
  to technology to help keep on top of their
  alternative dispute resolution workload.

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• According to Law.com, mediation lawyers have been
  using video software like Zoom, BlueJeans, WebEx,
  Samba and Lifesize to try to keep on top of cases
  and carry out what firms are calling virtual
  mediation or remote attendance mediation.

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• Day to day work cannot be put on hold
  indefinitely due to the crisis, so the use of
  these platforms has meant that parties could
  maintain social distancing, protect everyone from
  infection and carry on with business as usual.

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• Legal teams have been using online meeting
  software for many years to cut down on travel
  expenses, but it has not been as common for
  mediation as this form of legal work very much
  relies on the different parties coming together
  to resolve their conflict or disputes.

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• As most of the platforms now have break out
  rooms, this is what mediators are using to be
  able to host different parties in different
  online rooms. This means that there can be a
  group discussion and the opportunity for the
  clients and their lawyers to talk privately. The
  mediator can go in between the different meeting
  rooms as necessary.

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• Skeptics criticize that the whole point of
  mediation is to be able to read body language and
  mood in the same room as the parties and raised
  concerns about security. But many lawyers stand
  firm that a good mediator can still pick up on
  facial expressions and any visual signs through
  video calls.

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• Just since the pandemic breakout, the technology
  has been increased to introduce mandatory
  passwords for attendees and features like waiting
  rooms, so only people who are allowed on the call
  can actually gain access. The truth is, online
  mediation sessions are helping mediators to
  become even more efficient with their time.

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• The founding father of online dispute resolution
  Colin Rule has been named as President and CEO of
  Mediate.com this week. The former PayPal and eBay
  online mediation expert has taken up the post at
  a poignant time for online mediation in the midst
  of the COVID-19 crisis.
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• Mediate.com has one of the most comprehensive
  online libraries of dispute resolution resources.
  Mr Rule said that he was looking to help
  businesses and organizations across the world to
  take what they have learned from online
  resolution during the pandemic and evolve it to
  the next level over the next 10 years.

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• As the world emerges out of lockdown in the
  COVID-19 crisis, business bosses are predicting
  an unprecedented need for mediation as companies
  struggle with cashflow, contract fulfilment and
  delivery.
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• Companies are being urged to consider using a
  mediation lawyer when disputes arise to iron out
  the differences in a more amicable manner.

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• The corona virus crisis has changed the way
  people run their lives and behave. Many have been
  isolated for long periods. Others have lost their
  jobs and are struggling to pay the bills and to
  feed their families. The impact of these factors
  on their mental health is dramatic. It has made
  many very wary of who they are meeting, what
  interaction they are having and whether they will
  spread the disease as a result of meeting others
  outside their family and friends network.

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• Some might have to consider the use of public
  transport during this crisis period and whether
  they want to expose themselves to this risk. And
  if parties are in different states or cities,
  then it makes it even harder to travel with
  restrictions in place.

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• These stresses add to the pressure someone would
  be suffering from the conflict they are trying to
  resolve, so online mediation opportunities
  eradicate those other factors we have come to
  consider in this new normality.
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• Online mediation is giving people the flexibility
  and peace of mind to resolve their conflicts and
  disputes in a timely fashion and limit the stress
  and anxiety that comes with it.

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Contact details

• Lichtblau Law Office
• Address 499 Wilson Heights Blvd, Toronto,ON, M3H
  2V7
• Phone [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• Website https//lichtblaulaw.com/mediation/