Working Group in Massachusetts Seeks Input Help from Mediators in States that have Adopted Uniform Mediation Act

I am a member of the MassUMA Working Group, a committee which is exploring the possible adoption of the Uniform Mediation Act here in the Commonwealth.

We would be very interested in hearing from mediators in states which have adopted the UMA as to how it has affected your practice (if at all). We are especially interested in learning how it has impacted your description of the process to parties and/or their representatives, including privilege and exceptions to confidentiality.

For example, do you hand out a copy of the statute to your clients? Provide a synopsis orally or in writing? Or simply ignore it?
Has the UMA affected your practice in any other significant way?

All responses would be warmly received (and, of course, kept confidential!). By the way, you can see what our working group has accomplished so far and where we’re headed by visiting our web site at www.massuma.net.

Please feel free of course to pass our request on to colleagues–the more widely we can disseminate this request, the more complete our investigation will be. Please e-mail your information to [email protected].

Thank you for any assistance you can give us–it will be greatly appreciated by all.

                       

Diane J. Levin

Diane Levin, J.D., is a mediator, dispute resolution trainer, negotiation coach, writer, and lawyer based in Marblehead, Massachusetts, who has instructed people from around the world in the art of talking it out. Since 1995 she has helped clients resolve disputes involving tort, employment, business, estate, family, and real property… MORE >