What is the difference between in-person and online mediation?

It is widely recognised that the 2020 pandemic resulted in a hastened shift towards meetings being conducted online, for obvious reasons at the time. This was mirrored in the Family law sphere.

In the years that have followed, more meetings than ever are held online, including in mediation, with the initial mediation meeting and the joint meetings that follow. There are certainly benefits to this including;

• No person has to travel, meaning meetings can be more efficient, and perhaps at more flexible times.
• There is no concern about meeting the other person in the lead up to a meeting or following.
• Geographic distance is not problematic.
• Meetings can be managed similarly with separate rooms, breaks and time to consider the discussion away from the meeting.

That said, there remain advantages to meeting in person, including that it can be that being in the same room is beneficial, allowing everyone in the mediation to understand nuances, perhaps from body language or emotion that might be missed on a screen.

How ever mediation is conducted, online or in-person, it still follows the same key concepts; it is voluntary and confidential, the mediator is impartial and even-handed and couples or families keep control of their decision making.

Families considering mediation should take time to explore the options available to them, and speak with mediators to determine what is offered, and how this might suit them best as a family. For some, that may be online meetings, and for others, in-person.

At Blake Morgan, we tailor mediation to meet the requirements of each family, and discuss preferences from the outset and on an ongoing basis. We know that one size does not fit all, and we work with couples and families to ensure that we are providing all of the options, and adjusting the approach taken as necessary.

For more information on mediation, contact Rachel Giles, Laura Bennett or the Family team.