What Do Arbitrators and Conciliators Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Arbitrators and Conciliators facilitate negotiation and conflict resolution through dialogue. Resolve conflicts outside of the court system by mutual consent of parties involved. They also use mediation techniques to facilitate communication between disputants, to further parties’ understanding of different perspectives, and to guide parties toward mutual agreement.

Other tasks include:

• Confer with disputants to clarify issues, identify underlying concerns, and develop an understanding of their respective needs and interests.
• Authorize payment of valid claims.
• Conduct hearings to obtain information or evidence relative to disposition of claims.
• Rule on exceptions, motions, or admissibility of evidence.
• Prepare settlement agreements for disputants to sign.
• Set up appointments for parties to meet for mediation.

We asked Arbitrators and Conciliators how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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90% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 69% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Arbitrators and Conciliators confer with disputants to clarify issues, identify underlying concerns, and develop an understanding of their respective needs and interests. They interview claimants, agents, or witnesses to obtain information about disputed issues.

A typical day for an Arbitrator, Mediator and Conciliator will also include:

• Use mediation techniques to facilitate communication between disputants, to further parties’ understanding of different perspectives, and to guide parties toward mutual agreement.
• Set up appointments for parties to meet for mediation.
• Apply relevant laws, regulations, policies, or precedents to reach conclusions.
• Conduct studies of appeals procedures to ensure adherence to legal requirements or to facilitate disposition of cases.
• Evaluate information from documents such as claim applications, birth or death certificates, or physician or employer records.

We asked some Arbitrators and Conciliators a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	61% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	15% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	50% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	29% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	29% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	50% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Arbitrators and Conciliators also authorize payment of valid claims. They may also conduct hearings to obtain information or evidence relative to disposition of claims.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Arbitrators and Conciliators Conduct initial meetings with disputants to outline the arbitration process, settle procedural matters such as fees, or determine details such as witness numbers or time requirements. They might also Set up appointments for parties to meet for mediation.

In addition, they Rule on exceptions, motions, or admissibility of evidence.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Evaluate information from documents such as claim applications, birth or death certificates, or physician or employer records.

To some Arbitrators and Conciliators, it is also their responsibility to Prepare written opinions or decisions regarding cases.

Working life

Less than 40 hours per week

Irregular work schedule that changes depending on weather conditions, customer demand or contract duration.

In a typical work week as an Arbitrator, Mediator and Conciliator, you can expect to work less than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others..

They also like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/legal/arbitrators-mediators-and-conciliators.htm

http://www.mediationworks.com/