Standards of Conduct for Mediation

The Model Standards of Conduct for Mediators are the fundamental ethical guidelines for persons mediating in all practice contexts. The Standards were drafted by the American Arbitration Association, the American Bar Association’s Section of Dispute Resolution, and the Association for Conflict Resolution.

The preamble of the Standards indicate they serve three primary goals: to guide the conduct of mediators, to inform the mediating parties, and to promote public confidence in mediation as a process for resolving disputes.

As I have indicated in the past, mediation is a process in which an impartial third party facilitates communication and negotiation and promotes voluntary decision making by the parties to the dispute. Mediation serves various purposes, including providing the opportunity for parties to define and clarify issues, understand different perspectives, identify interests, explore and assess possible solutions, and reach mutually satisfactory agreements, when desired.
There are the following ten Standards: Self-determination, Impartiality, Conflicts of Interest, Competence. Confidentiality, Quality of the Process, Advertising and Solicitation, Standard Viii. Fees and Other Charges, and Advancement of Mediation Practice. To read the complete Standards of Conduct go to:

http://www.acrnet.org/about/initiatives/QualityAssurance/standards-conduct.htm

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