The Professional Mediator Practice Standards Charter

"The Professional Mediators' Association exists to promote excellence in all aspects of civil, business, workplace and employment mediation."

1. INFORMED CHOICE
All members of the PMA shall conduct mediation based on the principle of party self-determination and informed choice. PMA members shall explain to the participants, that the probability of success can be improved when they participate with an open mind throughout the mediation process.

2. IMPARTIALITY
All members of the PMA shall demonstrate impartiality throughout the mediation process by conducting mediations fairly, diligently, even-handedly, and with no personal stake in the outcome. PMA members shall decline a mediation if they cannot conduct it in an impartial manner.

3. CONFIDENTIALITY
All members of the PMA shall discuss confidentiality issues as soon as practical and before confidential information is provided by anyone. PMA members shall maintain the confidentiality of all information obtained by them during the process of mediation, unless otherwise agreed to by the parties.

4. QUALITY ASSURANCE
All members of the PMA shall conduct mediation in accordance with these Standards and in a manner that promotes diligence, timeliness, safety, presence of the appropriate participants, party participation, procedural fairness, and mutual respect among all participants.

5. COMPETENCE AND CPD
All members of the PMA shall mediate only when they have the necessary competence to satisfy the reasonable expectations of the parties. All PMA members shall update their skills on a regular basis by attending structured Continued Professional Development (CPD) events arranged by TCM to maintain and enhance their knowledge and skills related to mediation.

6. ADVERTISING
All members of the PMA shall be truthful and not misleading when advertising or otherwise communicating their qualifications, experience, services and fees. PMA members shall not make promises or guarantees of specific results.

7. FEES AND OTHER CHARGES
All members of the PMA shall provide each party or each party's representative true and complete information about mediation fees, expenses and any other actual or potential charges that may be incurred in connection with mediation.

8. MEDIATION PRACTICE
All members of the PMA shall act in a manner that advances the practice of mediation.

Click here to download the full PMA Practice Standards