The Mediation Act 2017 came into force just over a year ago, providing a statutory framework to promote the resolution of disputes through mediation as an alternative to court proceedings.

A high-profile event hosted by the Law Society of Ireland tomorrow (Thursday 28 March) will assess the impact of the Mediation Act 2017, with speakers including the President of the High Court, the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman and other experts.

William Aylmer is a solicitor, mediator and Chairman of the Law Society’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee. “Mediation has become increasingly visible in all aspects of the civil justice system as a result of the new Act. Its role is progressively to the fore in news reports of high-profile civil actions and High Court cases are frequently postponed or adjourned to allow the parties to reach resolution through mediation.”

“Solicitors play a key role in the increasing importance and success of mediation, either as accredited mediators or in assisting or representing parties in mediation,” Mr Aylmer explains. “We know from our own experience as a profession and the experience of key stakeholders such as the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO) that mediation has taken firm root as a vital part of the mainstream civil justice system and is achieving its aims of faster, mutually-agreeable resolution of disputes.”

New client care leaflet: Your Guide to Mediation

The Law Society will also launch a new leaflet at Thursday’s event, which contains basic information to support advice on mediation given to clients by their solicitor.

It’s the latest addition to a suite of multi-lingual information leaflets which have been developed to help solicitors explain specific areas of law to their clients. Other leaflets cover topics such as family law, conveyancing, employment law and tax.

The client care leaflets have been awarded the ‘Plain English’ stamp by the National Adult Literacy Agency and are only available through a solicitor. The leaflets are intended as a guide only and do not replace professional legal advice from your solicitor.

Mediation in the Civil Justice System: event details

Mediation in the Civil Justice System is being hosted by the Law Society of Ireland in collaboration with GEMME (Groupement Européen des magistrats pour la mediation) and CEDR (Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution).

Speakers will include:

• Mr Justice Peter Kelly, President of High Court
• Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Ger Deering
• Helen Kilroy, partner, McCann Fitzgerald
• Andy Rogers, Director of Communications, CEDR, London
• Diana Wallis, Senior Fellow, University of Hull

It takes place on Thursday 28 March 2019 at the Law Society of Ireland, Blackhall Place, Dublin 7 from 4.30pm to 7pm.

Journalists with an interest in attending should contact Kathy McKenna.

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