1. The Small Claims Mediation Service

Writing in the law bulletin of the Association of Her Majesty’s District Judges, James Rustidge, head of the Small Claims Mediation Service, said the scheme has now been in operation for just over two years and continues to go from strength to strength, with the number of mediations rising and satisfaction levels remaining high. Over the 12 months to the end of October 2001, the service had conducted some 10,000 mediations with a settlement rate of 73%. The Service is free and voluntary. Parties are invited to use the Service by ticking a box on the allocation questionnaire. Where both parties want to use the service, and/or the judge considers it appropriate, the parties are invited to contact the Service to set up a mediation appointment. If the case does not settle at mediation it simply progresses to a hearing before the judge.