THE PRE-MEDIATION CONFERENCE

In law practice, litigation engagements usually begin with client interview. This is where through an interview process the lawyer gets to know the details of his client’s brief as to what transpired between him and his adversary in the dispute. Subsequent legal work...
DEALING WITH NON-LAWYER MEDIATORS

DEALING WITH NON-LAWYER MEDIATORS

The introduction of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) into contemporary justice delivery has in some respects opened up the hitherto exclusive turf of lawyers to other professionals. Since the emergence of the legal profession in ancient Rome, formal dispute...
THIRD PARTY ASSISTED NEGOTIATION

THIRD PARTY ASSISTED NEGOTIATION

A fortnight ago, the Standing Conference of Mediation Advocates commenced a mentorship program for its Associate Mediation Advocates. The mentorship programme is being carried out under the auspices of the Lagos State Citizens Mediation Centre, an ADR Organization...
THE ROLE OF THE MEDIATION ADVOCATE

THE ROLE OF THE MEDIATION ADVOCATE

In the province of alternative dispute resolution, four professional career paths stand out. These are those of Arbitrator, Mediator, Conciliator and Mediation Advocate. Some of these are already well established in the consciousness of the user public, despite the...
WHAT IF MEDIATION DOES NOT RESOLVE THE CASE?

WHAT IF MEDIATION DOES NOT RESOLVE THE CASE?

In our examination of the Pre-mediation Conference (Client Interview by lawyer) a couple of weeks ago, we noted the need for the Mediation Advocate to obligatorily find out the underlying interests of the Client; that is, the actual reasons why the Client is pursuing...
NEGOTIATION IS NOT A DESTINATION

NEGOTIATION IS NOT A DESTINATION

Every business or human development activity is a product of negotiation. We negotiate to partner; we negotiate to put an operating structure in place and negotiate to raise capital, among several other activities. Everyone in business has at one time or the other...