Kompass Blog

Updated February 2024

Family mediators help families settle conflicts and disagreements without going to court.

Mediators do not take sides or make decisions. Instead, they help each party understand the other's concerns, explore options, and agree on solutions.

Family mediators are often called in when a couple decides to end their relationship. They help the ex-partners work out arrangements regarding children, property, and finances.

But while divorce is a common family mediator practice area, it's not the only one. In fact, a variety of specializations exist within the field.

In this post, we explore four major practice areas in family mediation—and some helpful information on getting started in this career.

Updated January 2023

Your success as a mediator will depend on your ability to cultivate a sense of collaboration and trust between people in conflict. That's no easy feat.

After all, people usually enter into mediation because communication has broken down. Resentment, stress, and suspicion have made it difficult to see matters clearly—let alone negotiate a fair outcome!

Professional mediators need a toolkit of techniques they can use to break down those walls, create an atmosphere of trust, and get opposing sides talking in productive ways.

These are fundamental skills taught in mediation training - and competencies you'll continue to hone throughout your entire career.

Here are four ways to build rapport and break through mistrust during the mediation process.

The primary goal of alternative dispute resolution (ADR)  is to settle disputes without litigation.

Going to court often involves a long and arduous process—and doesn’t always produce a beneficial result. 

This is precisely what ADR is designed to avoid: the time delays, costs, anxiety, and sometimes disappointing outcomes of litigation. 

ADR is used to settle disputes in a wide range of practice areas, including:

☑️ Family matters 

☑️ Commercial contracts 

☑️ Workplace disputes 

☑️ Labour relations 

☑️ Business and consumer disputes 

☑️ Intellectual property 

☑️ Sports 

☑️ Construction 

☑️ International trade deals 

☑️ Torts 

There are four main types of ADR. Many alternative dispute resolution professionals build skills across all four modalities, so they can choose or combine approaches to suit clients' needs.

In this post, we'll guide you through each ADR type, including common pros and cons of each model. 

Updated January 2024

Quick summary: Compare accredited mediation and arbitration certificates offered at Kompass. Learn how you can build your own customized online dispute resolution training program.

Disputes are an inevitable part of the human experience. In personal and professional relationships, in family groups and work settings, at the community level, and between nations—conflict is a fact of life. 

It’s how we deal with disputes that defines our capacity to evolve and grow. This is an increasingly valued personal and professional skill.

We’ve been delivering online dispute resolution training for years, and are continuously surprised at the diverse backgrounds and motivations of students. 

Like many judges and lawyers, Mary Joseph entered the field of alternative dispute resolution after retiring from a successful career in law. But she’s not your typical lawyer-turned-mediator.

Mary brings a unique repertoire of skills and scholarship to her mediation practice, including 30 years as an immigration lawyer, a Master’s in Divinity, and expertise in online dispute resolution (ODR).

Two years ago, Mary added mediation instructor to the list. She teaches the accredited Mediation Certificate at Kompass Professional Development.

Updated January 2023

Mediation is often described as both an art and a science. A science because the practice is governed by a clear framework, with concrete technical components and legal boundaries. 

An art because skilled mediators draw on a variety of less tangible assets, like intuition, self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and a gift for cultivating trust amidst tension and hostility. 

Updated October 2022

Mediation is not a regulated profession in Canada. There is no specific degree, diploma, or certificate you must have to start a career in mediation. 

That being said, most successful mediators have earned designations through the ADR Institute of Canada (ADRIC)—the country’s leading alternative dispute resolution organization. 

Both mediators and arbitrators can earn different kinds of professional designations through the Institute, depending on their educational qualifications and experience in the field. 

Which designations are available for mediators? How does one qualify? What is involved in gaining membership with the ADR Institute, and what can you expect in return? 

These are 5 quick facts every aspiring mediator should know about the ADR Institute—and laying the groundwork for a successful career in alternative dispute resolution.  

Hayley MacPhail has 20 years experience as a mediator and educator. She specializes in Family Mediation, and teaches an online mediation course at Kompass Professional Development.

If you're considering becoming a mediator (or just want to improve your conflict resolution skills), selecting the right training program can be a major challenge. There are so many options out there.

Updated January 2023

In recent years, there's been a major shift away from traditional litigation toward alternative dispute resolution (ADR) techniques such as mediation.

Mediation is generally less costly, stressful, and time-consuming than litigation—and offers a much higher degree of flexibility and personalization for clients.

However, in order to be effective, mediation must be a carefully structured, expertly led exercise. Lose control of the process, and negotiations will quickly devolve into chaos.

Formal mediation training teaches aspiring mediators a wide range of techniques they can use to resolve disputes. But even the most successful students and professional mediators occasionally fall into traps.

From losing neutrality to failing to contain and redirect destructive behaviours—these are five of the most common pitfalls you'll face as a mediator.

Updated January 2023

When people want to keep legal disputes out of court and behind closed doors, they often turn to mediation.

There are many reasons mediation has grown in popularity as a form of alternative dispute resolution (ADR). Most notably, it generally costs less than litigation and is far more flexible. Mediation is voluntary, the outcome is not legally binding, and unlike adversarial courtroom battles, mediation focuses on solutions that satisfy everyone involved.

But bringing opposing parties together and helping mistrustful people find common ground is far more challenging than it sounds. Mediators need a complex skillset to ensure the process proves worthwhile and participants leave satisfied with the outcome.

Considering pursuing mediation training, and wondering if you have a natural aptitude for conflict resolution?

Start by assessing your skills in these six key areas. If you're strong across each of these competencies, you have a good chance of becoming a highly effective mediator.