Arbitrator, Mediator, or Conciliator

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Job Outlook:
Faster than average
Education: Bachelor's degree
Salary
High: $194,630.00
Average: $98,920.00
Hourly
Average: $47.56

What they do:

Facilitate negotiation and conflict resolution through dialogue. Resolve conflicts outside of the court system by mutual consent of parties involved.

On the job, you would:

  • Prepare written opinions or decisions regarding cases.
  • Apply relevant laws, regulations, policies, or precedents to reach conclusions.
  • Conduct hearings to obtain information or evidence relative to disposition of claims.

Important Qualities

Critical-thinking skills. Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators must apply rules of law. They must remain neutral and not let their own personal assumptions interfere with the proceedings.

Decision-making skills. Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators must be able to weigh facts, apply the law or rules, and make a decision relatively quickly.

Interpersonal skills. Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators deal with disputing parties and must be able to facilitate discussion in a calm and respectful way.

Listening skills. Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators must pay close attention to what is being said in order for them to evaluate information.

Reading skills. Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators must be able to evaluate and distinguish important facts from large amounts of complex information.

Writing skills. Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators write recommendations or decisions relating to appeals or disputes. They must be able to write their decisions clearly so that all sides understand the decision.

Personality

A3 Your Strengths Importance

Characteristics of this Career

99% Analytical Thinking  -  Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
98% Self-Control  -  Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
97% Integrity  -  Job requires being honest and ethical.
96% Independence  -  Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
95% Stress Tolerance  -  Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
94% Attention to Detail  -  Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
91% Dependability  -  Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
87% Persistence  -  Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
87% Adaptability/Flexibility  -  Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
87% Concern for Others  -  Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
86% Achievement/Effort  -  Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
81% Cooperation  -  Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
78% Initiative  -  Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
76% Innovation  -  Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
71% Social Orientation  -  Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
70% Leadership  -  Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
A3 Your Strengths Importance

Strengths

95% Social  -  Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
89% Enterprising  -  Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.
A3 Your Strengths Importance

Values of the Work Environment

89% Relationships  -  Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
72% Achievement  -  Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
72% Independence  -  Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
67% Recognition  -  Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.

Aptitude

A3 Your Strengths Importance

Abilities | Cognitive, Physical, Personality

78% Oral Comprehension  -  The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
78% Oral Expression  -  The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
78% Written Expression  -  The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
75% Inductive Reasoning  -  The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
75% Speech Clarity  -  The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
75% Written Comprehension  -  The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
75% Deductive Reasoning  -  The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
69% Speech Recognition  -  The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
69% Problem Sensitivity  -  The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
A3 Your Strengths Importance

Skills | Cognitive, Physical, Personality

71% Negotiation  -  Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
70% Active Listening  -  Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
68% Speaking  -  Talking to others to convey information effectively.
68% Critical Thinking  -  Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Job Details

Responsibilities
Meet with individuals involved in legal processes to provide information and clarify issues.
Arbitrate disputes between parties to resolve legal conflicts.
Coordinate legal schedules or activities.
Prepare legal documents.
Present social services program information to the public.
Prepare written decisions for legal proceedings.
Rule on admissibility of legal proceedings.
Evaluate information related to legal matters in public or personal records.
Interview claimants to get information related to legal proceedings.
Research relevant legal materials to aid decision making.
Identify implications for cases from legal precedents or other legal information.
Provide legal advice to clients.
Meet with individuals involved in legal processes to provide information and clarify issues.
Represent the interests of clients in legal proceedings.
Prepare legal documents.
Administer oaths to court participants.
Authorize payments to settle legal disputes.
Research relevant legal materials to aid decision making.
Arbitrate disputes between parties to resolve legal conflicts.
Identify implications for cases from legal precedents or other legal information.
Make decisions in legal cases.
Conduct hearings to investigate legal issues.
Make decisions in legal cases.
A3 Your Strengths Importance

Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent

99% Freedom to Make Decisions  -  How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
96% Spend Time Sitting  -  How much does this job require sitting?
91% Importance of Being Exact or Accurate  -  How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
90% Structured versus Unstructured Work  -  To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?
79% Electronic Mail  -  How often do you use electronic mail in this job?
73% Face-to-Face Discussions  -  How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
70% Frequency of Conflict Situations  -  How often are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job?
69% Telephone  -  How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
68% Contact With Others  -  How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
68% Level of Competition  -  To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
68% Time Pressure  -  How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
65% Indoors, Environmentally Controlled  -  How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?
A3 Your Strengths Importance

Tasks & Values

96% Getting Information  -  Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
94% Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others  -  Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
83% Making Decisions and Solving Problems  -  Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
78% Analyzing Data or Information  -  Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
73% Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge  -  Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
72% Documenting/Recording Information  -  Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
69% Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events  -  Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
69% Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships  -  Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
69% Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others  -  Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
66% Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work  -  Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
65% Processing Information  -  Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

What Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators Do

arbitrators mediators and conciliators image
Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators help parties come to mutually acceptable agreements.

Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators facilitate negotiation and dialogue between disputing parties to help resolve conflicts outside of the court system.

Duties

Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators typically do the following:

  • Facilitate communication between disputants to guide parties toward mutual agreement
  • Clarify issues, concerns, needs, and interests of all parties involved
  • Conduct initial meetings with disputants to outline the arbitration process
  • Settle procedural matters such as fees, or determine details such as witness numbers and time requirements
  • Set up appointments for parties to meet for mediation or arbitration
  • Interview claimants, agents, or witnesses to obtain information about disputed issues
  • Prepare settlement agreements for disputants to sign
  • Apply relevant laws, regulations, policies, or precedents to reach conclusions
  • Evaluate information from documents such as claim applications, birth or death certificates, and physician or employer records

Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators help opposing parties settle disputes outside of court. They hold private, confidential hearings, which are less formal than a court trial.

Arbitrators are usually attorneys, business professionals, or retired judges with expertise in a particular field. As impartial third parties, they hear and decide disputes between opposing parties. Arbitrators may work alone or in a panel with other arbitrators. In some cases, arbitrators may decide procedural issues, such as what evidence may be submitted and when hearings will be held.

Arbitration may be required by law for some claims and disputes. When it is not required, the parties in dispute sometimes voluntarily agree to arbitration rather than proceed with litigation or a trial. In some cases, parties may appeal the arbitrator’s decision.

Mediators are neutral parties who help people resolve their disputes. However, unlike arbitrators, they do not render binding decisions. Rather, mediators help facilitate discussion and guide the parties toward a mutually acceptable agreement. If the opposing sides cannot reach a settlement with the mediator’s help, they are free to pursue other options.

Conciliators are similar to mediators. Although their role is to help guide opposing sides to a settlement, they typically meet with the parties separately. The opposing sides must decide in advance if they will be bound by the conciliator’s recommendations.

Work Environment

Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators held about 9,100 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators were as follows:

State government, excluding education and hospitals 14%
Local government, excluding education and hospitals 13
Self-employed workers 11
Insurance carriers and related activities 8
Other professional, scientific, and technical services 7

Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators usually work in private offices or meeting rooms. They may travel to a neutral site chosen for negotiations.

The work may be stressful because arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators sometimes work with difficult or confrontational individuals or with highly charged and emotional situations, such as injury settlements or family disputes.

Getting Started

Education:
36%
First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession.
27%
Bachelor's Degree

How to Become an Arbitrator, Mediator, or Conciliator

arbitrators mediators and conciliators image
Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators are usually lawyers or business professionals with expertise in a particular field.

Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators typically need at least a bachelor's degree at the entry level. They learn their skills through a combination of education, training, and work experience.

Education

Few candidates for these jobs receive a degree specific to the field of arbitration, mediation, or conflict resolution. Rather, many positions require education appropriate to the applicant’s field of expertise. A bachelor’s degree is often sufficient, but some positions require candidates to have a law degree, a master’s in business administration, or another type of advanced degree.

Work Experience in a Related Occupation

Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators are usually lawyers, retired judges, or business professionals with expertise in a particular field, such as construction, finance, or insurance. They need to have knowledge of that industry and be able to relate well to people from different cultures and backgrounds.

Training

Mediators typically work under the supervision of an experienced mediator for a certain number of cases before working independently.

Training for arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators is available through independent mediation programs, national and local mediation membership organizations, and postsecondary schools. Training is also available by volunteering at a community mediation center.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

There is no national license for arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators. However, some states require arbitrators and mediators to become certified to work on certain types of cases. Qualifications, standards, and the number of training hours required vary by state or by court. Most states require mediators to complete 20 to 40 hours of training courses to become certified. Some states require additional hours of training in a specialty area.

Some states require licenses appropriate to the applicant’s field of expertise. For example, some courts may require applicants to be licensed attorneys or certified public accountants.

Job Outlook

Employment of arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators is projected to grow 5 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.

About 400 openings for arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

The alternative methods of resolving disputes that these workers provide often are quicker and less expensive than trials and litigation. In addition, many contracts, such as those for employment and real estate, include clauses requiring mediation or arbitration to resolve complaints and disputes. These factors should help to support demand for arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators.

However, because alternative dispute resolution in government is contingent on available funds, state and local government budgets may affect public sector employment of arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators.

Contacts for More Information

For more information about arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators, visit

American Arbitration Association

Association for Conflict Resolution

Similar Occupations

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators.

Occupation Job Duties Entry-Level Education Median Annual Pay, May 2022
Judges, mediators, and hearing officers Judges and Hearing Officers

Judges and hearing officers apply the law by overseeing the legal process in courts.

Doctoral or professional degree $128,610
Lawyers Lawyers

Lawyers advise and represent clients on legal proceedings or transactions.

Doctoral or professional degree $135,740
Paralegals and legal assistants Paralegals and Legal Assistants

Paralegals and legal assistants perform a variety of tasks to support lawyers

Associate's degree $59,200
Private detectives and investigators Private Detectives and Investigators

Private detectives and investigators search for information about legal, financial, and personal matters.

High school diploma or equivalent $52,120

Information provided by CareerFitter, LLC and other sources.

Sections of this page includes information from the O*NET 27.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.

CareerFitter, LLC has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.