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What kind of salary a mediator earns in the UK depends on a number of factors:
The level of salary earned by mediators in the UK depends to a certain extent on what type of cases they mediate. Large, complex commercial cases, for example, tend to attract higher fees than community or family disputes.
Similarly, it may be possible to earn more working independently than working in salaried employment. Being part of a Mediation Chambers can also boost income opportunities.
Generally, the more experience a mediator has, both in mediation and in terms of the subject matter of the dispute, the higher the fee they will be able to command.
It is difficult to accurately define a salary range for mediation, as fees paid to private mediators are generally not published, but they can range from no salary for those working as volunteers, for example in the community sector, to six-figure sums per annum for the most highly sought after commercial mediators.
A family mediator is the most likely to be able to find salaried employment in State or private mediation services. Family mediation services operate nationwide and are funded by the State or other organisations. They offer full and part-time work and may also take on people who which to become a trainee family mediator. As it is important to keep family mediation services affordable, the salaries offered are not as high as in other sectors. However, a family mediator can expect to earn up to about £60,000 per annum in such services.
It is also an option to work as a family mediator on a freelance or independent basis and charge clients on a case-by-case or hourly basis. The fees chargeable for this would be higher for experienced mediators and those with the right personal qualities.
Mediation in the working environment can also be a primary, or a second career for someone who has experience in this area. The work involved can be carried out by someone employed in the organisation, or by an external or freelance mediator. Salaries would be in a similar range to those for a family mediator.
Commercial mediation tends to be practiced by freelance mediators or members of a Mediation Chambers, when a mediator joins with other mediators to develop a practice together. Many have a background in law or other professional qualifications. Commercial mediators who have a great deal of knowledge and experience, and are used to dealing with complex issues and multiple parties, can command substantial fees for their appointments, sometimes even in the range of £15,000 - £20,000 per mediation.
Mediators who have additional education or knowledge in the relevant subject matter of a dispute may form specialist practices and charge extra based on their subject matter focus and expertise. Very specialised areas such as international intellectual property law, for example, requires a high level of understanding of the relevant law and an ability to work with different parties in different jurisdictions.
Salaries can differ by specialisation as some areas require more training and education and a very high level of skills to work with a client that has a particular type of conflict. There may be a higher demand for particular types of mediators who have specialised knowledge and experience of mediating particularly stressful situations.
Salaried vary more by subject matter area than by geographical area, though of course the fees in large urban centres like London, Manchester and Birmingham tend to be higher than those in smaller towns. Where fees paid to mediators through a court-based service, these may also vary by region. Court fees in Scotland and Northern Ireland, for example, tend to differ from those in England and Wales.
Supply and demand will also impact upon the level of fees a mediator can earn. Where there are a higher number of cases available the fees may be higher, although there are often more mediators looking for work in those areas too, like in the bigger cities.
This variation is less relevant for a family mediator, as these services tend to be much more widely available and required across the United Kingdom. When considering setting up a mediation practice, it is always a good idea to find out how many people are already practising in that area and what the demand for your skills is likely to be.
The main factors that influence mediator salaries are education and experience. The more education and training a mediator has had, the more likely potential users are likely to trust them. Alongside the initial professional qualification, a higher education qualification is very desirable, as it shows that the mediator has studies mediation skills and the mediation process to a very high degree. A master's degree, for example, can enable someone to distinguish themselves from the competition.
To see our full range of mediation courses visit our course catalogue.
Additional skills such as those that come with a legal background, experience in family law or social care, or business management can also be useful. In addition to this, people who come to mediation as a second career can show that they have life experience, excellent communication skills and teh ability to establish trust.
A previous career in a related industry will also help build a network of people, like solicitors, who will be potential sources of work. It can be challenging to begin a mediation business and to encourage potential clients to support your business, so a network of people to help with this will improve your earning capacity.
Trainee and new mediators may need to work for very small salaries initially. In fact, many mediators spend some time volunteering in order to get experience. Over time, however, earnings for employed mediators will increase, particularly if they are in state-run services or organisations that have opportunities for permanent employment and career progression.
Self-employed freelance mediators have the opportunity to increase their earnings by working hard at both delivering and marketing their services. If they can build a good reputation they will get more work, or have the opportunity to join a Mediation Chambers such as Independent Mediators and work as a team.
Not all cases will reach agreement, but if parties and their legal advisers are happy with a mediator they will recommend them to others who have a dispute.
The current demand for mediators in the UK is higher than it has been in the past, and future job market trends show a likely increase in this demand as new Civil Justice Reforms come on stream and divert a larger number of disputes into mediation and out of court.
As the popularity of mediation continues to grow, more commercial clients and in-house legal teams experience the benefits of mediation which in turn drives demand.
Some sectors with a growing need for mediation services include the workplace and employment sectors, environmental disputes, tech and pharmacutical disputes and other forms of commercial conflict. Consumer and personal injury disputes are also experiencing a growing trend of being resolved in mediation.
Overall, the job market for mediators is showing signs of becoming more buoyant, though many mediators still work freelance, as self-employed professionals. For those, work looks set to increase also as more cases are diverted out of court.
Job opportunities can arise in different sectors and different bodies, companies and organisations, and those looking for mediation work should engage with recruitment organisations and monitor jobs websites. Further information on setting up in practice as an independent mediator is usually a part of an accredited training programme, or follow on course such as (Galvanise or similar....)
In conclusion, it is well worth exploring a career in mediation, especially if you also have previous professional knowledge and skills that can add value to your practice.
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