In order to be a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil, Family or County Mediator, there are specific qualifications and requirements that must be met, including specialized training regarding the mediation process, laws that apply to mediations, and some specialized subject matter knowledge. A Certified Mediator does not have to be an attorney, however at the Mediation Offices of Caryn Bayazi, Esq., all mediations are handled by an experienced attorney. It is important to note that a mediator is prohibited from giving any legal advice to the mediation participants, but some participants or their counsel prefer to have an attorney handle mediation conferences since such a mediator will have been through litigation matters before. Another consideration in choosing a mediator is the mediator’s demeanor. For example, is a strong mediator who pushes the parties to see both sides of an issue what you are looking for, or do you prefer a good listener, or maybe some of both? Some ways to see if a mediator has the characteristics that you are looking for is to go by recommendation, ask for referrals, or just call the mediator and request a free consultation. The Mediation Offices of Caryn Bayazi, Esq. is happy to provide a list of referrals, and would enjoy the opportunity to offer a free consultation to answer any of your questions.