Which SCMA membership category is appropriate for me?

You must make that determination based upon your level of training and experience, and then, which level of benefits best meets your expected needs in the current year. Please review the Standards for Professional Membership, posted and determine whether you qualify for that level of membership. If you have any questions about your qualifications, contact the "Board member of the Month" for clarification.

What verification of qualifications for any particular membership category does SCMA conduct?

SCMA does not conduct a verification process. The SCMA membership program operates as a self-certifying program guided by the honor system and anticipates that you will choose the level of membership that best matches your level of training and experience.

Does membership in SCMA signify that I am a “certified” mediator?

No. SCMA does not operate any kind of formal mediator certification or credentialing program. However, for those who choose to join SCMA at either the Platinum or Professional levels, members are required to complete a simple form stating that they have satisfied the applicable education, training, and experience requirements. SCMA continues to study mediator quality assurance issues, with a view toward identifying the attributes that go into making an individual effective as a mediator and the impact on our profession of credentialing programs being developed in other areas of the country.

I'm new to mediation. Will I be in over my head?

Not if you start in the right place for you. Depending on what kind of disputes you would like to mediate, there are numerous opportunities for new mediators to gain experience through volunteer panels. In addition, SCMA offers a Mentor Program that can ease this journey for you.

With whom can I talk to find out what it is like to be a mediator?

Feel free to contact any of our Board members, whose names are listed on this website.

How to I become a member of a court mediation panel?

Contact the ADR office of the state court in your jurisdiction. For example, the Los Angeles Superior Court ADR office may be contacted at (213) 974-5425, or through the Los Angeles Superior Court website. The United States District Court and the Second Appellate District of the California Court of Appeal also maintain panels. See their respective websites for more details.

Do you have to be an attorney to mediate litigated cases?

No. SCMA members include many mediators who have successfully mediated a multitude of litigated cases as members of court panels.

Do I have to be an SCMA member to participate in the mentor program?

Yes, but this is a benefit available to all SCMA membership levels, even the least costly student membership.

How do I find a mentor?

The SCMA website lists those who have volunteered to be a mentor through SCMA. Review the list and contact the person you have chosen, in order to determine whether a mentoring relationship with that particular volunteer fits your needs, geographical location, availability and type of practice.

Who can be a mentor?

Any Professional or Platinum member of SCMA is qualified to be a mentor.

I've been a mediator since before you were born. What's in it for me?

Membership in SCMA, for the most experienced members of our profession, is beneficial to both the mediator and SCMA. For seasoned mediators, SCMA offers opportunities for keeping abreast of the latest trends and laws in this rapidly evolving field, keeping a fresh and stimulated mind, hob-nobbing with peers, publishing articles on mediation in the SCMA Newsletter or the Online Publishing Library and speaking engagements to potential client audiences. SCMA can benefit from the membership of seasoned professionals when they share their experience with other mediators through SCMA’s Mentor Program, Roundtables, Committees and Conferences, or are willing to take a leadership role in the organization.

How do I access mediation training?

Governmental agencies, such as the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office and the Los Angeles Superior Court offer mediation training. Nonprofit organizations offer training in specialized areas, including peer mediation, arts and entertainment, neighborhood disputes and cultural conflicts. Some of these agencies are the Asian Pacific American Legal Center, California Lawyers for the Arts, and Martin Luther King Dispute Resolution Center. Bar Associations, including the Los Angeles County Bar Association, provide trainings. Additionally, courses are offered through many universities, including University of California, Santa Barbara and Pepperdine University’s Straus Institute of Dispute Resolution. Many experienced private mediators also provide training. In choosing the right training program for your needs, consider factors such as the qualifications of the instructor, as well as your areas of interest, time availability and an acceptable price range.

Does SCMA lobby on behalf of mediators?

Yes, SCMA plays a vital role in public policy issues affecting mediators and the mediation process. Most recently, SCMA filed an amicus curiae brief with the California Supreme Court in the Rojas case, a seminal decision that will have a significant effect on mediation confidentiality. Following the Rojas decision, SCMA has been working closely with the judiciary, the legal community, and other stakeholders to consider whether any revision to the mediation statutes is necessary.

What position does SCMA take in regard to ethics of mediators?

SCMA, as an organization, takes no official position on these issues. We are made up of a diverse group of professionals, many of whom have their own ethical rules of conduct, which may also guide their behavior as mediators. SCMA has taken the position that Mediation does not constitute the Practice of Law, and there are no Ethical Guidelines, which have been adopted and/or codified to dictate proper ethical conduct for mediators. In June 1995, In order to serve as a guide for the ethical conduct of mediators, SCMA adopted the Model Standards of Professional Conduct for Mediators as put forth and ascribed to by the International Society of Professionals in Dispute Resolution, the American Arbitration Association and the American Bar Association.