Mediation survey – please help

Sir Henry Brooke, Chair of the Civil Mediation Council, has asked that the following letter be given the fullest circulation so here it is :

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

One of the most exciting developments in the law over the last twenty years has been the growth of the use of mediation as a means of resolving disputes quickly, cheaply and effectively. This is not only a legal development: community, workplace and neighbourhood mediation have also become well established and often have nothing at all to do with litigation or legal issues. Six years ago the Civil Mediation Council was established to foster that growth and to act as a voice for the civil mediation community in its dealings with government and the public. Since then there has been a steady growth in the use of mediation as more and more people have experienced its value. To give just one example, mediation is now provided free of charge in over 8,000 small claims court cases each year by trained mediators employed by HM Courts Service. Figures provided to the Council this year suggest that the number of heavier civil or commercial mediations carried out in England and Wales increased again sharply in 2008. The paid up membership of the CMC, of both individual mediators and providers, has risen significantly in the last 12 months.

We want to move forward now, and to this end the CMC and the cause of civil mediation generally asks for your help. I attach below a link to an on-line survey we are conducting as part of a major ongoing consultation exercise. We ask our members and the mediation community generally to try to ensure the widest possible circulation of this email and the link. We believe this exercise to be very important, and we are keen to canvass the views not only of mediators and mediation providers but also of clients, lawyers, judges and as many other people who are involved in the world of mediation as possible. It may even be that you will receive this email more than once. If this does happen I apologise.

The questionnaire deals with various issues of policy and principle that will affect the CMC’s future work and decide our priorities. We will greatly value your reply.

So if you are
· A mediator
· A mediation provider
Please complete the survey and make sure that this email and the link below get the widest possible circulation among
· Users of mediation
· Consumer organisations, trade unions and business associations
· The courts
· The legal profession
· Academics and researchers.
We want all of you to take part. The link for the questionnaire is: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=Uc2t2OCMndtHi3hMImO7xQ_3d_3d If you would like to know more about mediation or the work of the Civil Mediation Council please visit our website at www.civilmediation.org.

Sir Henry Brooke Chairman Civil Mediation Council

So consider yourself asked. Please pass on the link to any colleagues or associates who fit Sir Henry’s description. I think the survey closes on 16th October and it takes about 5 minutes to complete.