With Kamala Harris’s recent victory as the first female, first person of color Vice President of the United States, Halima DeLaine Prado’s promotion to General Counsel of Google, and Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation to the United States Supreme Court; women are shattering glass ceilings in the legal profession. Perhaps women and people of color will also find more opportunity in the male dominated field of dispute resolution as diverse lawyers seek their reflection in the neutrals they chose to resolve disputes. Are you ready to face the challenge?
Building A Practice
The neutral is the heart of a dispute resolution practice. Success of a practice depends on the neutral’s strengths and weaknesses. Natural problem solvers, strong communicators, persuasive partners, and empathetic listeners will succeed in dispute resolution. Effective mediators must also be persistent, attentive to detail and emotionally intelligent. In turn, arbitrators with strong management, analytical, and writing skills excel. Finally, the best neutrals honor the pillars of dispute resolution: confidentiality, efficiency, sound judgment, and of course, neutrality.