What makes Mediation so Valuable: An Intern’s Perspective
My name is Nikolas Linder and I am a Junior Legal Studies major at St. John Fisher
University. I plan on going to law school and have a strong passion for the legal field. As an
undergraduate student, I have not yet decided what specific area of law I want to focus on for my
career.
However, when mediation was brought to my attention I was intrigued.
One of the key reasons that mediation was an interest to me was the fact that it is so
different and unique to other areas of law such as litigation. In litigation, it is often very formal
and several other parties are involved. It can be extremely nerve-racking for all the parties
involved and costs a lot of money. Mediation is much different from litigation in the sense that it
is so much more personal and provides the client(s) with a much more comforting environment.
An environment in which they can truly express themselves and feel more comfortable with
communicating what is on their mind and ultimately their goals. The personability of mediation
and the connection that clients can have with a mediator is certainly something I find to be so
important and valuable.
Throughout the process of divorce or any other kind of family matter, it can be extremely
difficult for the said parties to take the necessary steps to move forward and resolve conflict.
There can be disagreements and emotions can often get the best of one’s self. With the
intervention of a mediator it makes that process much easier and comforting as well as mitigating
the amount of tension or unrest between the two parties. Being able to connect with clients on a
personal level and truly understand what they want and what is best for their specific situation is
crucial. It may take more than one meeting between the two parties and the mediator, but the
mediator’s goal remains the same throughout the whole process. Work in the best interest of the
two parties and help the two parties come to a resolution that both parties can mutually agree on.
Most of the time, couples that want to engage in some sort of mediation are very understanding
and mindful of one another in the sense that they are willing to put differences, beliefs, and ego’s
aside to come to a resolution. Whether that resolution revolves around financial matters after a
divorce, custody, or reconciliation; mediation provides that additional support that many couples
are looking for when trying to navigate through this tough period of their lives.
As somebody that loves to help people and enjoys connecting with others on a deeper
level, mediation is something that is right up my alley. Being able to use the law to help people
come together and resolve conflict without having to go to court is something that I feel I could
take a lot of pride in. Throughout my internship at the Mediation Center I look forward to seeing
how these skills are put into practice during shadowing opportunities and ways in which I can
improve upon them and implement them someday on my own. I also look forward to seeing how
my perspective and knowledge regarding mediation changes and improves over the course of
time that I am here.
Also, as somebody that has experienced divorce in their life, I can say that it is not easy and
extremely tough on all individuals involved. But, with the help and guidance of a mediator, that
process can be a lot more stress-free and efficient.
Nik Linder – Intern 2025
