Mediation Quality Mark

On 23 March the Government published its Pledge on ADR declaring its intention to settle legal disputes out of court. In future, Government departments will only go to court as a last resort, settling their legal disputes by mediation or arbitration whenever possible. This endorsement of ADR is to be followed by a new mediation quality mark to be awarded by the Community Legal Service to mediation services specialising in family and community disputes to show that they meet nationally recognised standards of service and expertise. The CLS has set up a working group to develop the mediation quality mark plan. It includes representatives from the Legal Services Commission, the Law Society, the UK College of Family Mediators, the Advice Services Alliance and Mediation UK. The mediation quality mark standard will be published for consultation in the summer.