The steps to become a divorce mediator may depend somewhat on the jurisdiction in which you want to practice. Nevertheless, there at least some primary steps those interested in pursuing a path to become a divorce mediator often take. These steps include earning a college degree in a related field, as well as some additional training in divorce mediation. Once those things have been completed, the final step is to find employment, which could come from several different places. Mediators should also be aware that requirements can vary greatly from one area to another.
The first step in the process to become a divorce mediator typically involves earning a college degree, at least a Bachelor’s degree and perhaps even a postgraduate degree. The degree is often in a specific field related to divorce work, such as social work, psychology, or law. Earning the degree usually takes approximately four years of college, although a law degree and other types of postgraduate degrees can take longer.
Once you have earned a college degree, the next step in order to become a divorce mediator is to take additional training. Some degree fields will include mediation, and may even touch on divorce mediation. Finding additional training specifically in divorce work gives the mediator some additional tools in what can often be a highly stressful situation for all parties involved. These trainings could take 40 hours or less to complete, and are offered by many private companies.
In some jurisdictions mediators may need to be certified or complete a certain number of additional training hours, but these are highly variable. In the United States, for example, no state has uniform mediation requirements, but individual court districts or counties may have their own requirements. In order to become a divorce mediator in all geographic areas in which you want to practice, it is necessary to meet those specifics, no matter how long or often you may have been practicing in a neighboring county or district.
The final step in order to become a divorce mediator involves finding an organization or agency that uses mediation services. This could include agencies such as law firms or even some mental health clinics. If these are not found in the area you want to practice, then some mediators make a living doing the work on a contract or freelance basis. It may take time to build up a client list and a reputation if you do decide to go into business for yourself, and many mediators may do other forms of counseling or other similar work while their divorce mediation service gets established.
