Have you ever considered how the legal process impacts clients on a personal level? Regardless of your answer, this mediation continuing legal education (CLE) course is for you.
Most law firm clients score above 300 on the Social Readjustment Scale and have an 80% chance of becoming ill, which only adds to their existing life stressors. And let’s be honest, litigation doesn’t do much for our own stress levels.
Mediation is often in your clients’ best interests. It can also benefit you.
We Might Be Comfortable in Court But Our Clients Usually Aren’t
Consulting an attorney isn’t exactly an item on anyone’s list of enjoyable activities. This mediation CLE course imagines the litigation experience for clients without a legal background or who have never been in a courthouse.
Much of the legal process is designed to be intimidating and adversarial. It also demands a lot of time, money, and resources. Add the confusing formalities and technical language, and even the most confident person can develop fears and self-doubt. Mediation offers a much more comfortable client experience.
We Forget That the Unknown Is Very Scary for Clients
While lawyers might find confidence knowing that worst-case scenarios are statistically unlikely, clients’ fears can destroy their confidence and peace. Understanding the emotional journey of clients might be more important than our legal knowledge. By acknowledging their unique human experiences, we can foster comprehensive conflict resolution and empower them to advocate for peaceful resolutions in all areas of their lives.
What Can Lawyers Do to Improve the Client Experience?
Are your clients feeling the weight of litigation’s emotional toll? Perhaps it’s time to give mediation due consideration.
I partnered with ProLawCLE on one of my favorite courses. Originally presented for Lawline, this mediation CLE course reminds attorneys and paralegals of the emotional costs of litigation, offering mediation as a more effective alternative. Among other things, I explore the Social Readjustment Rating Scale and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs in relationship to various litigation matters. Integrating these psychological insights into various legal scenarios, it becomes clearer how mediation can lead to profound resolutions that litigation might miss.
Course Overview
This mediation CLE course will allow participants to:
- Define conflicts that arise between best and actual practices
- Identify their clients’ full range of interests
- Co-create a more complete settlement strategy
- Execute that strategy effectively in mediation