Today (10 October), president Brett McGrath unveiled the Lawyer Mediator Accreditation Scheme (LMA Scheme) at the Law Society of NSW’s Annual Conference.

Under this new initiative, individuals seeking legal issue resolution through mediation can engage with a lawyer mediator who holds legal qualifications to guide them towards a fair and effective resolution.

The establishment of this new accreditation system ensures that individuals receive guidance supported by legal expertise and experience while upholding rigorous professional standards.

“Dispute resolution is core business for lawyers. That means a background in the legal profession provides a layer of analytical skills that is not a given for other mediators. The variety of practice areas from which lawyer mediators are drawn also means parties can have a subject matter expert to help resolve their dispute,” McGrath said.

The LMA Scheme comprises the accreditation requirements and practice standards that lawyer mediators must adhere to.

McGrath outlined these as including “requiring lawyer mediators to have completed comprehensive mediation training from an accredited provider, as well as being subject to ongoing additional professional development requirements to ensure their mediation skills and knowledge are up to date”.

While mediators come from various professional backgrounds, McGrath explained how “mediators are not able to give legal advice during a mediation”, while “LMA Scheme accredited solicitors will offer an invaluable skill set, often including extensive experience in litigation”.

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The chair of the Law Society’s alternative dispute resolution committee, Gary Ulman, explained the importance of this new accreditation system in ensuring that individuals facing legal challenges have the assurance that “the mediator they have chosen is a dispute resolution expert and is also legally accountable for their conduct during the mediation process”.

He further said: “People who appoint a lawyer mediator can also be assured that the professional they’ve entrusted with their issue is subject to legally enforceable ethical standards through the Legal Profession Uniform Law.”

“The LMA Scheme will benefit both lawyer mediators and the public by providing solicitors a straightforward path to accreditation and by offering people a clear choice when they decide on the person best qualified to guide their dispute through to resolution.”

The Law Society of NSW has announced that solicitor members who are currently accredited as mediators can apply under the LMA Scheme. Additionally, they are required to renew their accreditation through the LMA Scheme every two years by demonstrating their adherence to its requirements.