Legal
Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators
Also called: Alternative Dispute Resolution Coordinator (ADR Coordinator), Arbiter, Arbitrator, Divorce Mediator
US median pay
$75,530
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+4.7%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
300
10,500 employed
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
Preparation 5/5 · Extensive preparation
What this job is
Facilitate negotiation and conflict resolution through dialogue. Resolve conflicts outside of the court system by mutual consent of parties involved.
What they do day to day
- Prepare written opinions or decisions regarding cases.
- Apply relevant laws, regulations, policies, or precedents to reach conclusions.
- Conduct hearings to obtain information or evidence relative to disposition of claims.
- Determine extent of liability according to evidence, laws, or administrative or judicial precedents.
- Rule on exceptions, motions, or admissibility of evidence.
- Confer with disputants to clarify issues, identify underlying concerns, and develop an understanding of their respective needs and interests.
- Use mediation techniques to facilitate communication between disputants, to further parties' understanding of different perspectives, and to guide parties toward mutual agreement.
- 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.
- Evaluate information from documents, such as claim applications, birth or death certificates, or physician or employer records.
- Research laws, regulations, policies, or precedent decisions to prepare for hearings.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Negotiation4.6/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.8/5
- Persuasion3.8/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.8/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.6/5
- Coordination3.1/5
- Service Orientation3.0/5
- Time Management2.9/5
Knowledge
- Law and Government4.2/5
- English Language4.2/5
- Personnel and Human Resources4.0/5
- Administration and Management3.0/5
- Education and Training2.7/5
- Economics and Accounting2.6/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 5 of 5 — Extensive preparation. Usually a graduate degree (master's, PhD, MD, JD) and extensive experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): Bachelor's degree, plus less than 5 years of related work experience.
Highest education of people in this job:
- First professional degree37%
- Bachelor's degree16%
- Post-master's certificate11%
Who this job suits
Mostly Enterprising
Leading, persuading and starting things
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Social
Helping, teaching and caring for people
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.