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For a variety of reasons, Scotland lags behind many other nations when it comes to the use of mediation to resolve disputes, despite the substantial cost and time that often comes with litigation. <\/p>\n
In Scotland, rather than seeing litigation as a last resort to resolving disputes, it is the route many people decide to take from the outset. But many commentators believe that more consideration should be given to mediation and its benefits. <\/p>\n
It allows parties with a dispute to conduct negotiations with the help of an independent third party. The mediator facilitates conversations and meetings between everyone involved, including clients and lawyers. The aim is to help all parties explore and understand what the real issues are, and to identify ways forward which everyone can agree to. If successful, mediation removes the need for litigation.<\/p>\n
An expert in the area, John Sturrock QC, the founder of and senior mediator at Core Solutions, the founder of Collaborative Scotland and visiting professor at the University of Edinburgh, explains the<\/p>\n
benefits of taking this approach before resorting to litigation. <\/p>\n
\u201cMediation is very flexible, is conducted in private, enables discussion of non-legal as well as legal issues, is reasonably quick \u2013 most mediations are set up within days or weeks and are usually completed in one day \u2013 helps restore business and other relationships, allows creativity and is usually much less costly than ongoing litigation or unresolved negotiations, \u201c he says.<\/p>\n
\u201cAbove all, perhaps, it gives the people who have a dispute the control over decision-making in resolving matters, rather than placing it in the hands of a third party such as a judge. Litigation can then be used as a last resort if that is necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n
He adds that mediation is suitable for nearly all situations in which parties want to resolve matters without the expense and time of going to court.<\/p>\n
Despite such advantages, mediation is still used less in Scotland than in many areas of the world, including parts of Europe. This was highlighted in the Bringing Mediation into the Mainstream in Civil Justice in Scotland Report published by Scottish Mediation, an expert group chaired by Sturrock and solicitor Alun Thomas, a partner with Anderson Strathern, in June this year. <\/p>\n
The Scottish Government chose to work with the group to explore how the greater use of mediation might be encouraged in the civil justice system.<\/p>\n
The report examined the experience of other jurisdictions in using mediation, including the US, England, Canada and Ireland, where the Irish Mediation Act 2017 set out a framework for mediation as an alternative to civil court proceedings. An international evidence review was carried out by Scottish Government justice researchers to inform the expert group\u2019s work. <\/p>\n
Based on findings of this research, the preface to the report stated: \u201cThe lessons learned from their experience has led to us taking a more progressive and directive approach than many of us would have had anticipated as we commenced our work.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sturrock says some feel that, at least until recently, judicial support in Scotland for mediation has been less than in many other jurisdictions. That may now be changing. <\/p>\n
The report made a number of recommendations on how to break down barriers to the use of mediation, with Sturrock explaining: \u201cWe need Scottish Government support, probably with legislation, judicial encouragement, a well-structured programme in the courts and education of the general public about how it works and its benefits.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added that he would like to see teaching about mediation become mandatory for lawyers and others so they are in a position to advise knowledgeably about it.<\/p>\n
And it seems now could be the ideal time for mediation to be increasingly used ahead of litigation, with more research having been carried out in on the issue and greater political support for it.<\/p>\n
In May this year, Margaret Mitchell, a Conservative MSP and convener of the Scottish Parliament\u2019s justice committee, launched her consultation on the Mediation (Scotland) Bill. This followed the publication last autumn of a justice committee report on the issue, entitled I Won\u2019t See You In Court.<\/p>\n
According to law firm CMS, the crux of the proposed Member\u2019s Bill is the introduction of a new process which would stop well short of mandatory mediation, but would involve parties attending a court action meeting with a mediator for a Mediation Information Session. CMS has said the Bill can be seen as a \u201cmeaningful step in Scotland\u2019s alternative dispute resolution journey\u201d and could ultimately \u201cintroduce significant change\u201d.<\/p>\n
Mitchell has said she hopes her proposals would have a \u201cpositive impact on the use and \u00adconsistency of mediation services across Scotland; improve awareness; modernise and speed up the settlement of disputes; and reduce costs\u201d. <\/p>\n
Sturrock says: \u201cEverything which assists in building understanding about mediation is helpful. I do hope that there will be cross-party support and wide acceptance by other interested bodies.\u201d<\/p>\n
Consultation on the Bill closed in August and the process highlighted some concerns about its proposals. For example, law firm Pinsent Masons, stated \u201cwe fully support and encourage all forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution in appropriate cases\u201d but \u201cwould urge caution in going down a route which may lead to unintended consequences\u201d. Potential issues it refers to include access to justice and cost.<\/p>\n
And Zurich Insurance\u2019s response said it does \u201cnot believe that mediation is suitable for all types of cases. We do not believe that mediation is suitable for personal injury cases which includes accidents arising from a motor accident, an accident in the workplace and accidents in a public setting\u201d. It added: \u201cA mediation process could cause delays and result in additional costs.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sturrock comments that many personal injury and workplace accident cases are already mediated successfully. He believes there is a fear of change and a lack of knowledge and experience of its benefits. <\/p>\n
Supporters of mediation are hopeful that increased awareness of its advantages will help drive change.<\/p>\n
The Bringing Mediation into the Mainstream in Civil Justice in Scotland Report made a number of recommendations. One proposed innovation is the creation of an Early Dispute Resolution Office. Its function would be to review all cases received by the relevant court or tribunal, identify and direct appropriate cases towards mediation, or other more appropriate form of dispute resolution, and to co-ordinate the mediation process.<\/p>\n
Sturrock concludes: \u201cMediation has a significant role to play in Scottish civil justice, and indeed more widely. I hope the report will achieve a real breakthrough in the availability of mediation to those with disputes in Scotland.\u201d<\/p>\n
This article first appeared in The Scotsman<\/em>\u2019s Scottish Legal Review. A digital version can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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