The Ministry of Justice is soon to announce the guidelines for Counsel – led mediation in the Family Court. Click here to view a copy of the guidelines.

The Guidelines provide that mediators must:

a. Have a minimum of 5 years practice in the Family Court; or be able to demonstrate equivalent experience including an ability to demonstrate an awareness of:

• Family systems theories and child development;

• Gender issues;

• Domestic violence and power imbalances, and how to deal with unequal bargaining positions;

• How to deal with highly emotional clients;

• The challenges of dealing with unrepresented clients;

• Community-based organisations and support groups offering families help;

• The legislation applying to Family Court disputes; and

• Case management and Family Court processes.

b. Demonstrate an awareness of cultural issues;

c. Demonstrate an awareness of disability issues;

All of these issues above are dealt with in our 3 day family mediation course currently being offered in Auckland, Napier and Dunedin. Click here for further information or to register.  The 3 day course is recommended for experienced lawyers working in the Family Court.  Many experienced practitioners who are lawyer for child have now completed the course and the feedback we have from them is that the course is invaluable.

d. Be a current member of:

• LEADR’s Panel or Advanced Panel with current accreditation of ongoing practice and training;

or

• AMINZ’s Panel of Mediators (either Associate or Fellow Mediator) with a current certificate of continuing professional development; Click here to apply to be on the AMINZ Mediation Panel. and

e. Be able to demonstrate that they have in place arrangements to undertake regular professional supervision. Click here to view the AMINZ Supervision Protocol.

AMINZ will continue to work to ensure that the full scheme for family mediation, as enacted in 2008, becomes a reality. This will mean that non lawyer mediators will be able to work in the Family Court. We are soon to announce more training for those interested in mediating with families. Please register your interest in the soon to be released seminar:

Click here to view the Family Court Early Intervention Process.

For anyone wanting assistance becoming credentialed  to be on the AMINZ mediation panel, please contact us.  We are happy to help you work through the options.