Family mediator

You could do a degree or postgraduate diploma in:

• social work
• law
• counselling
• psychotherapy
• education

You'll need several years' experience in your chosen profession alongside a qualification to move into mediation work.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
• a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• student finance for fees and living costs
• university courses and entry requirements

You'll need paid or voluntary experience of working with families to get into this job. This could be in settings like family support centres, counselling services or child contact centres.

Volunteering at a local community mediation service, for instance helping to settle neighbour disputes, can also be useful experience.

You could apply for a job as a trainee family mediator if you have a higher education qualification and experience in an area like:

• law
• social work
• counselling

As part of the selection process, you'll need to show you have the right personal qualities and skills to be a family mediator.

You can do training with a professional association that works in mediation. Training entry requirements vary between them but most will expect you to have relevant experience from paid work or volunteering.

Associations include:

• Family Mediators Assocation
• National Family Mediation
• Resolution

Career tips

Some family law solicitors and legal executives choose to train and work as mediators although law qualifications are not essential for this job.

Further information

You'll find more advice about working in family mediation through the Family Mediation Council.

You'll need:

• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• persuading and negotiating skills
• active listening skills
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• excellent verbal communication skills
• sensitivity and understanding
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• knowledge of English language
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

You'll need to:

• pass enhanced background checks

In this role you could be:

• meeting clients jointly or separately to explain the mediation process and decide on the issues to discuss
• helping clients find ways of communicating with each other
• listening to each client’s feelings and concerns
• discussing issues like child residence and contact, property and money
• helping clients to consider all options and suggesting and discussing solutions
• keeping discussions fair, equal and focused
• keeping accurate and confidential records of discussions
• summarising agreements in writing
• recognising when mediation is not working
• working with solicitors and courts when necessary

You could work in an office.

Your working environment may be emotionally demanding.