Recommended Guidelines
Ethics & Standards of Conduct
On June 6, 2008, the Pennsylvania Council of Mediators Board of Directors endorsed the "Model Standards of Conduct for Mediators" which was adopted by the American Arbitration Association, the American Bar Association, and the Association for Conflict Resolution in 2005.
In addition to the Model Standards Conduct for Mediators‚ Standard V - Confidentiality provisions, Pennsylvania mediators must follow the Confidential Mediation Communications and Documents Act (Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, Title 42, Section 5949), which establishes mediation confidentiality and exclusions to confidentiality.
Additional information on ethics and standards of conduct can be found online:
Best Practices for Basic Mediation
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania does not promulgate standards, nor does it have a certification process for mediators.
In the absence of regulation by the Commonwealth, and in order to provide guidance to both practicing and aspiring mediators, the Pennsylvania Council of Mediators (PCM) has recommendations which are aspirational in nature, and which are intended to promote best practices for mediators within the Commonwealth.
PCM recommends mediators have a minimum of twenty-two (22) substantive hours of basic mediation training which includes, dispute resolution information, theory, philosophy, differing models, skill building and role play. PCM also encourages mediators to gain practical experience in an environment that provides performance-based review, feedback, and guidance, and in this regard PCM encourages co-mediation and the use of mentors. To stay current with developments in the practice of mediation, and to further develop and refine mediation skills, PCM recommends mediators engage in a minimum of six (6) hours of continuing mediation education and practical skills training a year.
Mediators should also be aware that some specialty areas of mediation may require or encourage specific training and/or experience, and mediators are encouraged to be aware of and comply with such requirements.
PCM also suggests that mediators familiarize themselves with the Model Standards of Conduct for Mediators, adopted in 2005 by the American Bar Association’s Section on Dispute Resolution, the American Arbitration Association, and the Association for Conflict Resolution. PCM endorsed these model standards in 2008.
Here is the full text of the Model Standards (PDF).
Adopted March 5, 2018
