Arbitration & Mediation

Georgia and South Carolina Courts Favor ADR.

By Christopher Annunziata

Every once in a while, someone will ask me, “Can you really make a living mediating full time?”   Despite any lingering doubts (especially that one month early on when I made $75 on mediation), I would always respond, “Yes.”  Well, the Augusta (GA) Chronicle recently reinforced something I already suspected knew: Georgia Courts favor the use of mediation and there appears to be lots of mediation to go around.

The Chronicle spoke with the director of  the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution,  Shinji Morokuma.  He estimates that in 2008, nearly 38,000 cases were referred to mediation by the State and Superior Court system (our trial level courts) resulting in approximately 20,000 cases being resolved through ADR.  By the GODR estimate, it would take 17 full-time judges to work through that case load.

Now, the ODR has about 2400 registered neutrals, but in reality, I doubt that even 5% practice mediation “full-time”.   Even if 200 mediators bill themselves as “full time” and are trying to make a living at it, there’s gold in them thar hills.  We just have mine it.

Hi Ho! Hi Ho!

Full post as published by CKA Mediation and Arbitration Services Blog on March 05, 2009 (boomark / email).