Online mediation has been utilised since 2015 in one guise or another. Replacing telephone mediation to an extent, and became an alternative to a physical mediation, when a physical mediation was not possible or preferred.

In 2020 the coronavirus, COVID-19 swept the whole world. Changing the (legal) working world as we all knew it. The majority of employees had to work from home. No exception to the rule were mediators, solicitors, businesses and courts. Having no choice but to conduct mediation through video calls.

The Best Platform

Having used various remote online platforms such as Microsoft Teams, What’s App, Webex, Google Meet, CoScreen, Jitsi, GoTo Meeting, Discord, and Zoom. Feedback from our forty mediators established that Zoom was the best platform, and the most user friendly to conduct online mediations.

Advantages Of Zoom

  • Ease of use. Zoom was much easier to use than the other platforms we used and less clunky.
  • Cheaper. Zoom was on average cheaper than some of the other platforms. They offer a monthly and yearly subscription, with discounts.
  • More secure. It can be debated that Microsoft Teams is more secure, however we found Zoom to be a better option. Mediation is confidential, therefore having a secure platform which cannot be hacked is imperative.
  • None of our mediators reported any issues with the audio or video, whereas they had issues with some of the other platforms. With connectivity falling in and out.

Online v In Person?

Is online mediation as effective as an in-person mediation. Yes, it is, all attendees can be conferenced in and out by the mediator. Separate digital meeting rooms can be set up to allow for confidential separate (caucus) meetings. Documents, screens can be shared with ease. Most importantly settlements can easily be achieved through remote mediation. Just as in person.

Conclusion

Online mediators have found that once the restrictions around COVID-19 had relaxed clients and enquirers still wanted remote mediations, simply because of its convenience. Online mediation is here to stay, and was not a temporary measure. The only time when an in-person mediation should be preferred to an online one would be when the parties prefer that mode.