1

Mediate BCs 2015 Survey of Roster Mediators

Summary of Key Results

In the spring of 2015, Mediate BC Society issued a survey to mediators on its Civil and

Family Rosters (including the Associate Rosters) to learn more about the use of

mediation in British Columbia. This was the second annual survey.

74 of the 313 Roster Mediators responded

83% of respondents were located in Greater Vancouver and Southern Vancouver

Island (consistent with the first survey)

95% reported that they lived in an urban rather than a rural community

Respondent gender was divided approximately equally between male and

female.

The average respondent age was 54

The average years of mediation experience was 12

53% of respondents reported that law was their primary professional background

(compared to 48% in 2013)

How many mediations did they conduct during 2014?

Civil Family Workplace

# respondents 36 22 18

Total 887 433 156

Range 1 to 180 1 to 135 1 to 40

Average 25 20 9

Median 9 10 4

What percentage of mediations involved at least one participant who was not

represented by counsel?

%

Civil 40

Family 64

Workplace 65

2

What was the mix of issues in CIVIL mediations?

Rankings (1 = most common) 2014 2013

Personal Injury 1 2

Employment 2 5

Business/Consumer 3 1

Wills & Estates 4 4

Rest. Justice 5 14

Other 6 3

Insurance 7 9

Community 7 11

Housing, Real estate, strata 8 7

Prof complaints/negligence 8 8

public institutions 9 6

elder care 10 10

finances / taxation 11 13

rights / identity - 12

Interpretation: in 2014, mediators reported that the 3rd most common type of issue they encountered

was business/consumer. Restorative Justice issues jumped from 14th to 5th.

What was the mix of issues in FAMILY mediations?

Rankings (1 = most common) 2014 2013

Parenting arrangements 2 2

Child support 3 3

Spousal support 5 4

Division of assets/debts 1 1

other 4 5

To what extent are mediators using technology tools?

% 2014 % 2013

Civil 9 7

Family 4 10

Workplace 11 4

3

How much does mediation cost?

The first question was mediator hourly rates (comparing 2014 to 2013).

The next question was average total cost to completion.

The sample sizes are relatively small. It is likely that differences in both sets of

responses are caused by a different mix of mediators in 2014 compared to 2013. We

also reworded the question to take out Court Mediation Program fees as the focus of

the question was the cost to the parties. Also, we note that a higher percentage of

mediators with a legal background responded to the 2014 survey compared to the 2013

survey (53% compare to 48%).

$239 $235$198

$250$226

$256

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

Civil Family Workplace

Average Hourly Rates

avg hourly rates 2014 avg hourly rates 2013

$1,391

$3,044

$1,377$1,658

$1,951 $1,980

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

Civil Family Workplace

Average Total Mediation Fees to Completion

avg total cost 2014 avg total cost 2013

4

What is the resolution rate for mediation?

The results showed an increase in civil but a slight decrease in both family and workplace:

77

167

68

25

7

0

20

40

60

80

100

Resolved all Not all but progress Resolved none

Civil Mediation Resolution Rate %

2014 2013

76

177

81

17

20

20

40

60

80

100

Resolved all Not all but progress Resolved none

Family Mediation Resolution Rate %

2014 2013

72

23

5

77

20

3

0

20

40

60

80

100

Resolved all Not all but progress Resolved none

Workplace Mediation Resolution Rate %

2014 2013

5

What was the average duration of the mediation process?

Avg # of weeks

Civil 8

Family 14

Workplace 5

This was a new question. The results compare well to a court process.

How many mediators sought satisfaction feedback from participants?

Only 42% compared to 47% in 2013.

How satisfied were participants with the mediation process and outcomes?

Note the small sample size (n=16)

80

70

16

9385

27

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Process Outcome # respondents

Participant Satisfaction Rates %

2014 2013

6

Based on your experience in 2014, what do you predict will be the primary growth areas for mediation in the next five years?

# responses % family mediation / court connected 14 23 Wills / estates / succession planning 10 16 workplace / employment / OHS 10 16

Elder care 8 13

online mediation / technology 5 8 commercial 3 community mediation 2

environmental / remediation 2

all 2 small business 1 child protection 1

personal injury 1

strata disputes 1 no idea 1

61

Respondents were able to list more than one area

Other Comments Included:

Not all respondents were full-time private mediators:

o Many mediated within their workplace/employment rather than privately

o Some mediate part-time by choice

Some Civil mediators limit their practice almost entirely to ICBC personal injury

claims. They note that the volume and full resolution rates of ICBC mediations

have decreased significantly