My Zoom Mediation checklist, for publication in the ADR Chapter of the 2nd edition of the Contentious Probate Handbook states:

1.  Log on 30 minutes early & set-up a back-up device.

2.  Wait for each P to log on.

3.  Admit P’s to Waiting Room [‘WR’] one at a time.

4.  To admit click on ‘Participants’.

5.  Send each P a message – ‘I will be admitting you in a moment, assigning you to your BOR & will visit you after all of the P’s have been admitted, assigned & all BOR’s have been opened up.’

6.  Create Break-Out Rooms [‘BOR’s] i.e. do not pre-create. NB

create extra rooms for yourself as Mediator; a ‘Coffee Room’ e.g. to put

Solicitors/Counsel into; & a ‘Conference Room’ for joint sessions.

·      BOR Icon.

·       Number e.g. 5 BOR’s.

·       Manual. 

·       Create.

·       Rename leaving a gap between each name. 

7.  Assign P’s to their BOR’s one at a time i.e. to keep separate: 

·       Click ‘Move automatically.’

·       Click ‘Create’.

·       When 2nd dropdown menu appears – click ‘Assign.’

·       Click on each P’s name against their assigned BOR.

·       Open all rooms.

·       Each P will receive a message inviting them to join their assigned BOR.

·       Ask each P to click ‘Join’ – Green dot next to name confirms P is in their BOR.

8.       Assign yourself to the Mediator’s BOR.

9.       Go to security icon in tool bar & ‘Lock meeting.’

10.       Meet & greet each P – 1st unmute:

·       Join P.1’s room. 

·       ‘It’s nice to meet you.’

·       ‘I’m Carl Islam your mediator – please call me Carl.’

·       ‘I just want to check you have everything you need (including the signed copy of the Mediation Agreement)’ & check that your messages are getting through.

·       ‘We’re going to get started in a moment.’

·       Check functionality e.g. whiteboard.

·       ‘Do you have any questions.’

·       I will be back in [10] minutes after I have visited P.2 in their BOR to welcome them.

·       Leave room & join P.2’s room.

Stephen’s new book is an indispensible practical guide written by a master of Digital Mediation. I recommend that you purchase a copy. Happy digital mediating and I would welcome any comments about Zoom/TEAMS mediation war stories and tips from digital mediation users around the world. Given the state of our railways and because of transport strikes, the cost of hotel rooms, and the fact that COVID is still out there, I expect that time is fast approaching when Digital Mediation will overtake face-to-face mediation. Of course for cross-border commercial and trust disputes, this saves on the cost of flights and travel time. For participants who are anxious about meeting their opponent(s) face-to face, the P’s are not in the same building.