Mediation Guidelines

The following mediation guidelines are produced by the Law Council of Australia and the Australian Disputes Centre.

The Law Council of Australia has developed these guidelines to give assistance to lawyers representing clients in the mediation of civil and commercial disputes. It is not intended that the guidelines derogate in any way from the usual obligations imposed on lawyers by law or any ethical rules, professional conduct rules or standards. It is expected that the guidelines will be reviewed from time to time.

These guidelines are based on the work of the members of the Law Council of Australia Expert Standing Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution.

The Law Council of Australia has developed these guidelines to serve as a general ethical and practical framework for the practice of mediation. The guidelines are intended to apply to all types of mediation. Particular professional and other bodies may have different requirements.

The Law Council of Australia has developed these guidelines to provide practical and ethical guidance to parties engaged in mediation. The guidelines are intended to apply to all types of mediation. Professional and other bodies may have different requirements. Some types of disputes may be subject to specific legal requirements. These guidelines draw on existing guidelines and literature aimed at facilitating a productive mediation process and maximising the potential for a satisfactory outcome.

The Australian Disputes Centre maintains a list of guidelines and rules that provide a framework governing how the relevant dispute resolution processes will occur. 

Information from the Attorney-General's Depertment about regarding resolving a Family Law Dispute.