Career Overview
Facilitate negotiation and conflict resolution through dialogue. Resolve conflicts outside of the court system by mutual consent of parties involved.
Also Known As
- Alternative Dispute Resolution Coordinator (ADR Coordinator)
- Arbitrator
- Labor Arbitrator
- Mediator
Alternate Job Titles
- Adjudicator
- Alternative Dispute Resolution Coordinator (ADR Coordinator)
- Alternative Dispute Resolution Mediator (ADR Mediator)
- Arbiter
- Arbitration Manager
- Arbitration Specialist
- Arbitrator
- Community Relations Representative (Community Relations Rep)
- Conciliator
- Contracts Negotiator
- Debt Settlement Negotiator
- Dispute Coordinator
- Divorce Mediator
- Environmental Conflict Manager
- Family Mediator
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Prepare written opinions or decisions regarding cases.
- Apply relevant laws, regulations, policies, or precedents to reach conclusions.
- Conduct hearings to obtain information or evidence relative to disposition of claims.
- Determine extent of liability according to evidence, laws, or administrative or judicial precedents.
- Rule on exceptions, motions, or admissibility of evidence.
- Confer with disputants to clarify issues, identify underlying concerns, and develop an understanding of their respective needs and interests.
- Use mediation techniques to facilitate communication between disputants, to further parties' understanding of different perspectives, and to guide parties toward mutual agreement.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- English Language
- Law and Government
- Personnel and Human Resources
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Negotiation
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Social Perceptiveness
- Persuasion
- Complex Problem Solving
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Written Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
- Speech Clarity
- Problem Sensitivity
- Speech Recognition
- Near Vision
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Integrity
- Cooperation
- Self-Control
- Dependability
- Empathy
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Relationships
- Achievement
- Independence
- Recognition
- Working Conditions
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession.
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 10 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
Education Details: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Experience Required: Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Microsoft Word
- Oracle PeopleSoft
- Salesforce software
- SAP software
Tools & Equipment
- Computer data input scanners
- Desktop computers
- Laser facsimile machines
- Multi-line telephone systems
- Notebook computers
- Personal computers
- Photocopying equipment
Work Environment
- Spend Time Sitting
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $46,200 |
| Median | $67,710 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $133,480 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 7,860
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $115,230
Lawyers
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $151,160
Labor Relations Specialists
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $93,500
Judicial Law Clerks
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $60,400
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $156,210
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.