A Mediation Practice's One-Year Anniversary

  • January 11, 2021
  • Afsana Gibson-Chowdhury

Starting a new mediation practice can be an exciting and often daunting endeavour. Building a successful practice can feel like balancing various roles, including learning business management and development skills if you do not have them already.

Canadian mediators often have an established legal practice, or recently retired from one. These mediators will already have access to a network for potential clients. If mediation is your first career as a non-lawyer, foreign lawyer or a new lawyer, understanding the market, and how you plan to build your client base, can take time and patience.

As a practitioner myself, I have spent the last few years developing my practice. Before officially launching in January 2020, I spent nearly two years researching, shadowing and training to ensure all my bases were covered.

Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, I continue promoting Gibson Chowdhury as an Ontario mediation practice, specializing in personal injury matters. This element of my practice is an on-going process, as well as the maintenance of web content and business control.  

Here are some tips for young and new practitioners who are looking to make their mark as a mediator.