It’s indisputable that preparation before mediation sessions is very important – both for the participants and the mediators.  This can make a huge difference in the process and outcome.

Parties (and their lawyers, if any) need to be prepared to discuss the facts, law, interests, and/or negotiation approaches etc.  This is hard enough when they are well prepared.  It is so much harder when they are not.  By the same token, mediators can perform much better when they prepare before mediation sessions.

This short article discusses three issues.  First, why pre-session preparation is so important.  Second, why we should use the term “pre-session” instead of “pre-mediation.”  Third, why faculty and trainers teaching mediation should cover pre-session preparation – even though it’s hard to fit into the limited time they have to teach mediation.

Take a look.