No. By law in the State of Virginia, along with neighboring states, anyone can act as your mediator.  However, to be a good mediator requires extensive training, years of experience and a very specific skill set used during mediation.  On average, NVMS mediators have each been practicing for over 10 years, hold advanced degrees and certifications in a variety of ADR processes and have successfully conducted thousands of cases.

It’s important to know that mediation is a separate process and can run parallel to any legal proceeding, counseling session, financial planning, and other forms of professional services.  Any final agreements reached by the parties may affect legal rights, and for that reason we always encourage parties to seek their own legal counsel, which they can do at any point in the process (if they haven’t done so already).  Often, attorneys who attempt mediation may become bogged down by legal considerations or miss the dynamics of what is really going on between disputing parties.  This is one of the many reasons why mediation shouldn’t be mixed with other services, but can be aided with input and advice from whatever sources you may need.

Last updated on Sep 1, 2011 by NVMS