For those of us who have been looking forward to mediation becoming part of the popular culture, another sign that this might happen is the latest career rankings from US News. According to US News, a mediator is one of the best careers for 2008. The site on US News describes the job relatively accurately, even gives an average salary of $66,000 and notes that most people will not make money until they have done the job for about 5 years. The site also refers readers to websites, books and conferences to learn more.
At the same time, US News lists attorney as one of the 13 most overrated careers: “occupations with a mystique that exceeds reality.” As the site points out:
The Appeal: Many college students decide to go to law school by default. After all, a legal career promises prestige, money, and the chance to use the law to make a difference in society. Some aspiring attorneys also picture themselves as the lawyers on TV, making scintillating closing arguments in an expensive suit before a rapt jury.
The Reality: Most lawyers’ lives bear little resemblance to those on Law and Order. Even litigators spend lots of time drafting or poring over sheaves of detailed information and negotiating with other lawyers prone to contentiousness and chicanery. And most lawyers rarely go to trials, working instead as transactional attorneys who need to bill 2,000 hours a year or more to meet the firm’s targets. That can mean long evenings drafting lengthy, airtight contracts or other documents. In the corporate world, many lawyers find little fulfillment and burn out.
And, interestingly, US News lists mediation as a career alternative to being an attorney. Now we know what “alternative” really means!
I would then opt for “awesome”.
For what it’s worth, we here at the University of Oregon acted consistent with Brother Mat’s suggestion about a decade ago, with our center being called the Appropriate Dispute Resolution Center.
Our experience has been mixed. On the one hand, we can (appropriately) coordinate our efforts to train law students in a range of processes–including various ADR and litigation options. On the other, many people not from the ADR world inappropriately believe that we are implying that what THEY do is “inappropriate.” And although that’s not our intention, I can really understand why they’d get that impression. So, lots of work to do, still.
I would still opt for “appropriate”.