News

Items which have previously appeared on this news page can now be found in our Archive

New to the ANM?

We have a group for mediators who have been with ANM for less than 3 years. We meet every other month for peer review, support with gaining more mediation experience and exchanging ideas for promoting mediation in general! If you want to find out more please contact Fiona Green or on 0161 669 6231. The next meeting will be held at the RIBA Hub/Cube in Manchester on the 5th December 2011 from 3pm-5pm.

ANM launches Telephone Mediation panel from £50 per party

The cost of mediation or the difficulties of getting together in one place often put people off arranging a face to face mediation. In response to demand ANM has now launched its telephone mediation panel. Mediators have undertaken training on doing shorter mediations on the phone. These can last for less than an hour or in fact as long as the mediation takes. Simply click on the ANM Scheme button and you will be put straight through to the Scheme details.

New Civil Mediation online directory

A new civil mediation directory will replace the National Mediation Helpline from 1 October.

The civil mediation directory will help individuals and businesses to find a mediation provider anywhere in England and Wales. The mediation directory is an online tool and lists a number of local and national civil and commercial mediation providers, all of whom are accredited by the Civil Mediation Council. This includes ANM in all court areas covered by our members.

Individuals can search the directory for a mediation provider that is local to them; but it does not access individual mediators. ANM is one of the few providers who provide full information and direct access to mediators.

The cost of mediation is based on a fixed fee between as little as £50 to £425 per party, depending on the value of the dispute. Find out more by visiting the Civil Mediation directory.

The Dispute Resolution Commitment - UK Government guidance for the use of ADR by government departments and agencies

"The Dispute Resolution Commitment (DRC) is aimed at encouraging the increased use of flexible, creative and constructive approaches to dispute resolution. The DRC offers the opportunity for government departments to demonstrate a best practice approach to business, and in particular how Departments resolve disputes. It allows departments to demonstrate a clear commitment to having in place a framework to avoid disputes where possible and to effectively manage and resolve disputes quickly and effectively utilising the most suitable dispute resolution mechanism." Thursday, 21st July 2011 Click for link to guidance

Training – Time limited mediation

Ace time limited mediator Andrew Fraley ran a workshop for 20 ANM members on 6th July. His insight into how to reach agreement whithin time limits reminded us all that mediators must manage the process and whist the parties manage the content. Mediation is really managed negotiations, and we have to rise to the challenge of relating to and dealing with the tasks in hand and the very different personalities involved within these tight time scales.

From meeting and greeting the parties, managing their expectations early on, concertinaing offers and drafting agreements, he demonstrated a mastery over this subject even if this time limited approach wasn't applicable to every mediation. At the end of the day every mediator wanting to regularly mediate should look to what style best suits the sector they are interested in. All this is important as ANM mediators may have to handle significantly more small and fast track claims in 2 to 4 hours. In the past 10 years more than 50 ANM members have attended these courses to ensure that we shall be well placed to meet the demand.

Training – Telephone mediations

Mediating on the phone in an hour may well be one of the tasks members of ANM have to do once the government announces its intentions in or after October 2011. ANM ran a course in 2010 and is now registering mediators who are prepared to do and have carried out the required training. Members who missed out on the earlier training can now register if they run the Law Works podcast and apply to ANM for a listing with a nominal registration fee.

CMC Manchester Conference

The ANM co-sponsored this year’s successful conference in Manchester with over 200 delegates attending at the Lowry Conference Centre. Members and guests were treated to an upbeat speech from minister Jonathan Djanogly setting out the central role that mediation is intended to play in the government’s plans to re mould the county court service. There were others from the chair or the CBI, Helen Alexander, who praised mediation’s role as helping and healing business relationships, vital when the economy was in the doldrums. Geoff Lloyd from the HMRC also underlined the government’s role in using more mediation in disputes involving revenue and taxation. There were useful insights into what the European’s were doing – the Italian Bar’s pending strike against mandatory imposition of mediation turned out to be a bit of a damp squid; pride of place went to the Irish who did a belt an braces operation in their Mediation Act, breaking new ground in setting out what is expected of both mediation and conciliation. ANM’s new stand was much in evidence; but it is the substance of what this organisation does rather than the size of its banner’s that counts, and our contributions both before and after the conference were and continue to be very well received.

Summer School 2011

The 12th Annual Summer School was held in Malham with a cracking audience entertained by course directors David Richbell and Jane Gunn. The title Mastery in Mediation brought it home to us how much we all had to learn from each other whether it was from newly qualified members or old stagers like Silas, Chris and at least a trio of Pauls. At dinner glasses were raised to the health of the Association and it’s members. Here here and so say all of us!

Government Consults on County Court Changes

The Ministry of Justice is conducting a wide ranging survey prior to making significant changes in the county court. This includes increasing small claims limits from the current £5,000, bringing in mandatory mediation for all small claims, and introducing automatic referrals of other claims to mediation awareness sessions. This association has produced a comprehensive response. The survey is accessible via Ministry of Justice website and our response can be downloaded here.

The Government will lead by example by committing to using better, quicker and more efficient ways of resolving legal disputes, Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly announced on Friday 23rd June. This renews the commitment to use mediation and ADR more and to use the courts as a last resort.

Clarke puts the breaks on the litigation gravy train

Justice Minister Ken Clarke announced on the 29th March that the civil justice system needs an overhaul and that involves creating more effective alternatives to going to court. He is introducing automatic referrals to mediation in all small claims case which will now be increased from £5,000 to £15,000. A great many of these will be dealt with on the telephone. This association will be very involved in the process to include organising the pilot case screening to start in Manchester later in the year. For more information see http://www.justice.gov.uk/news/newsrelease290311a.htm .