SCMA is The Home for Southern California Mediators
SCMA is the pre-eminent professional association in Southern California for individuals who provide mediation services or work in the area of conflict resolution. Our members include full and part time mediators, educators in conflict resolution, human resources professionals, clergy, therapists, general contractors, real estate agents and brokers, family and divorce professionals, jurists, former jurists and attorneys.
SIX GOOD REASONS TO JOIN SCMA NOW!
- Learn real-life Mediation from an Experienced SCMA Mentor. Many SCMA members offer their time and expertise as mentors to other SCMA members. Although no two mentor-mentee relationships are identical, some of the opportunities you might explore with your mentor are: (a) obtaining information about the various mediation panels on which your mentor participates, (b) observing one or more of your mentor’s mediations, (c) obtaining copies of the forms your mentor uses to convene and set mediations, (d) having your mentor attend your first mediation with you, etc.
- Increase your Expertise and Satisfy Continuing Education Requirements. It’s challenging for mediators to keep current, develop effective skills in a multitude of areas, and satisfy continuing education requirements. Mediators with or without legal background have much to learn about cognitive psychology, social psychology, cultural and religious differences, and mathematical game theory in order to be effective mediators. Mediators who come from non-legal backgrounds often need help with the legal terms they’ll hear at mediations. SCMA programs are educational, both substantively and practically, offer great opportunities for networking, and can satisfy your continuing education requirements.
- Expand Your Mediation Practice. Client development is critical for anyone who seeks to make a professional living from mediation. Even if mediation is simply an avocation, it still requires meeting fellow professionals, corporate counsel, real estate licensees, and lawyers in order to develop new business relationships. SCMA provides the opportunity to meet potential clients in business and local networking environments through its local chapter events throughout Southern California, our Employment Seminar (held annually in the spring) and our Annual Conference (held in November).
- Stay Informed. SCMA produces regular newsletters and weekly e-mail blasts to keep our membership informed of mediation-related developments, as well as programs and events in and around Southern California. You might even want to write an article for our newsletter to start getting your name out there!
- Save on Business and Personal Expenses. SCMA membership entitles you to the “association rate” for mediators professional liability insurance through Complete Equity Markets, Inc., a rate far lower than that obtainable by an individual. Additionally, SCMA uses its collective buying power to receive discounts on printing and a number of books and materials for mediators. As membership continues to expand, we expect our buying power to provide additional savings on seminars, legal publications, telephone service, office equipment, overnight delivery services, rental car discounts, credit cards, and insurance needs, among others.
- You’ll Make Great Friends and Have Fun! You’ll find that mediators are generally very warm, friendly, peace-seeking people. SCMA is chock full of these people, who will warmly welcome you.
Questions? Contact Us or email SCMA Office (scmaoffice@yahoo.com) .
Applications for Membership can be submitted via normal mail or on our Become A Member page. Each member MUST read the Standards For Professional Membership prior to joining SCMA. Please be sure to review all the written documentation prior to submitting your application. You can also print the Membership Application and mail it directly to SCMA.
