Learn How to Design a Winning Strategy with MCLA’s Executive Director, Bennett Root.
Strategizing for success in mediation is very different from strategizing in litigation. The rules are different, of course, but most importantly the ultimate decider is the opposing party, not a judge or a jury. In mediation, there are no “decider instructions” such as our Codes or prior court cases that are to be followed, and there are no jury instructions that are mandated. Instead, it is up to you to persuade the other side—whose interests and instincts are often very contrary to yours and your client’s—to see their way clear to do what you want them to do. This CLE program focuses on how strategy needs to be adjusted to accommodate this fundamental difference in the mediation and litigation processes, and how well conceived, pro-active strategies can be effective in securing the best results for your clients. Skills and tactics may be generally similar to those with which we are all accustomed, but they are different in their particulars. Mastering these differences will markedly improve your success rates, helping you help your clients to more just results, at a much lower cost.
About Bennett Root
Bennett (Ben) Root Jr., Executive Director of the Mediation Center of Los Angeles, is a highly skilled mediator, arbitrator, and fact-finder with over 40 years of experience in dispute resolution. A Harvard Law graduate (J.D., cum laude) with an LLM from Pepperdine University, Ben is certified in mediation through Harvard’s Program on Negotiation and Mediate.com. His expertise extends to arbitration and independent investigations, particularly in cases involving workplace disputes and harassment claims.
Ben’s commitment to alternative dispute resolution is reinforced by his extensive professional affiliations, including the American Bar Association, the California Bar Association, and the Southern California Mediation Association. With a career dedicated to resolving disputes efficiently and equitably, Ben continues to be a trusted leader in the mediation field.