On Virtual Dispute Resolution: Covid Week 1

Legal Industry Friends & Family,

The understatement of the year is that these are tough times for all industries. Pre-Covid, the legal industry was already drowning in cases in both litigation and other stages of advocacy. With our traditional method of resolution -the courts - shut down, I am now a fully converted believer that embracing technology is our best tool to fight for justice for our clients in these uncertain times.

We know that mediation allows parties the opportunities to make decisions that move their cases toward closure. We can’t let justice go unserved just because our primary tool has been taken away. Now it is more important than ever that we continue this process since the Courts cannot. Embracing virtual mediation is the first step to getting our industry moving again.

At the beginning I was hesitant to say the least. I believe the power of mediation lies in connecting with people and I wasn’t sure how I would achieve that through a computer. I felt like one of my best tools, human interaction and connection, was stunted because I wasn’t in person with clients. After learning some of the controls (thanks to Parag Shah) and getting through a full week of virtual mediations I feel more confident. I’m sold. 

To the skeptics, your concerns are valid – virtual mediation is not for every single case, there are a few outliers, but for the majority it actually is making our connections stronger! 

For the cases that are a good fit, there are some major upsides to virtual mediation. All parties have the comfort of their homes which brings a different level of confidence to the process. Without the intimidation of an office building full of lawyers and adjusters, Interactions are more thoughtful and targeted. Adjusters and plaintiffs are asking more questions.

I write this to let you all know that I am very excited about where this technology will take the legal industry. We are still learning how to make this all work. There are still mediations that just might not be the right fit for virtual resolution. 

I’m thankful that Miles Mediation & Arbitration is on the forefront of adaptation, open for business and continuing to resolve disputes in spite of our shared struggle. I am happy to provide tutorials so that each of you who choose me as a mediator has confidence in the functionality of the zoom platform. 

I am also providing premeditation meetings for Plaintiffs, Defendants and/or adjusters to gauge comfort and make sure that a virtual mediation is the right fit.

Please let me know if I can help get your cases resolved through this exciting new process! Thanks again to Adam C Joffe for allowing me to post a picture of him hanging up on me after our last session!

Be well, Take care, See you (virtually) soon - Gino