ODR AFRICA

After the outbreak of the coronavirus, many mediators around the world had to learn how to offer online mediation to their clients – most of them using a video conferencing software called Zoom. If you are one of those mediators, I hope you’ll find this article useful. It is based not only on my 7-year experience using Zoom, but also on my 27-year experience mediating face-to-face and online – first by email, then via Skype, and finally via Zoom. My answer to the question “What Do I Definitely Need to Become an Accomplished Online Mediator?” is as follows. 1 – Mediation Experience and Skills TheRead More →

  Kristen Blankley, Professor of Law at the University of Nebraska College of Law, Ashley M. Votruba, Assistant Professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Logen Bartz, Graduate Student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Lisa PytlikZillig, Research Associate Professor at the University of Nebraska Public Policy Center, have published “ADR is Not a Household Term: Considering the Ethical and Practical Consequences of the Public’s Lack of Understanding of Mediation and Arbitration,” Nebraska Law Review, Vol. 99, No. 797, 2021.  In their law review article, the authors examine whether the general public understands the alternative dispute resolution process and whether additional public education and outreach may be necessary. The abstract states: This ArticleRead More →

As an alternative dispute professional whose job is to navigate conflict daily, I am often asked how I would handle certain situations. Recently, I was asked how to avoid engaging in social media battles. What a timely and apropos question! Neuroscience tells us that we may not be the best versions of ourselves when we are in conflict, whether that’s in person or virtually. The part of our brain responsible for rational thought, the amygdala, is hijacked, and our ability to use executive function is suspended. Here are five tips to help you THINK and resist the urge to respond when you see a triggeringRead More →

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