Negotiation and Dispute Resolution Careers Information
Are you often the person among your friends who solves arguments by finding common ground? Do you keep a cool head when others are agitated, calming everyone down and helping them come to mutual agreements? Do you take satisfaction from helping people come together and compromise? A career in negotiation or dispute resolution might be just the path for you.
Negotiation and Dispute Resolution Careers & Degrees
- Colorado Technical University: Denver North
Jobs in dispute resolution can have many titles. Mediators, negotiators, and arbitrators are among the most common for those working in this field. These people act in a manner similar to lawyers, but their job is done outside the courtroom.
In fact, in certain legal cases, when a judge thinks a certain issue can be solved without the courts’ involvement, he or she will call upon a skilled negotiator to work with the parties outside of the legal procedures.
Mediators and negotiators meet with clients and facilitate discussion around the issue at hand. Though specific duties will vary widely depending on the clients and the specific issues, all mediation revolves around steering the debate toward productive ends. Mediators and negotiators will often prepare paperwork and outline productive solutions for both arguing parties.
Negotiation and Dispute Resolution Careers Path
Though many mediators and negotiators are former lawyers and judges, there are more and more people entering the field without formal legal training or experience. Arbitrators often have experience in the specific area of law or business in which they are mediating, however, and as such there are very few “entry level” mediators.
Though there are few undergraduate programs for conflict resolution or negotiation, there are master’s programs specifically focusing on the subject. Many mediators, as noted before, have law degrees, though others have degrees in public policy, business administration, and related fields.
There are also independent training programs for mediators and arbitrators, often 20- or 40-hour courses. Licensure may be required, depending on the state in which one is working, as well as the industry in which the arbitration is conducted.
Negotiation and Dispute Resolution Careers: Compatible Personality Traits
Excellent communications skills, the ability to remain calm, patient, strong interpersonal intuition, sharp memory, good organizational skills
Negotiation and Dispute Resolution Careers: Salary Expectations
Salaries vary widely for mediators and others working within conflict resolution, and depends heavily on the specific industry within which one works. Average earnings range, however, from $28,000 to $102,000 per year.
Negotiation and Dispute Resolution Careers: Job Outlook
As corporations and organizations seek to minimize conflict as well as court costs, mediators and arbitrators will find their job market growing faster than the average for all occupations for the next decade.
Arbitration and mediation is often faster and less costly than court battles, making the procedure preferable when possible. Mediators and arbitrators with legal backgrounds will find the greatest variety of job opportunities, as they will find work both in voluntary and court-mandated procedures.
Slightly off the Footpath
Sources: bls.gov/oco/ocos272.htm
