The career pole on which I have chosen to report is that of arbitrators, mediators and conciliators. Individuals in these positions facilitate negotiation and conflict resolution through dialogue, and they are charged with the duty of resolving conflicts outside of court by reaching a mutual agreement of all parties involved. Mediation is one of the alternative forms of dispute resolution aimed at resolving all disputes between two parties with concrete effects. Mediators reduce the cost of the American justice system, making the courts less expensive both for the state and for the plethora of plaintiffs and defendants who bring cases through the court system. If a case is resolved before going to court through mediation, all parties involved, including potential jurors, magistrates and attorneys, also save considerable time. According to the US News and World Report, the school with the best mediation program is Pepperdine University School of Law, located in Malibu, California. Pepperdine University School of Law is a member of the Global Justice program which works to promote international human rights, religious freedom, global development and the rule of law. This school also offers the opportunity for students to participate in legal journals and even earn a master's degree in conflict resolution. Mediators only need to earn a bachelor's degree, but several hours of additional training are required to become a certified mediator. In Virginia, there are no specific educational requirements for a mediator, as there are in many other states, and the parties can choose any mediator. However, for a mediator to receive a referral from a general district court, he or she must... middle of paper ...... is never to choose a "winner", but to decide which is fair to both parties. As a mediator, I believe that I could ease the burden on our justice system and encourage conflicting parties to come to an agreement rather than forcing them into a situation deemed fair by the court, particularly in civil cases. Works cited: "Arbitrators, Mediators, and conciliators." VIEW Career of Virginie. Np, and Web. October 7, 2013. Np, nd Web. October 7, 2013. "Careers of arbitrators, mediators and conciliators - Job description , video presentation and salary information. » American News University Directory, and Web December 11, 2013. « Pepperdine University. » American News and World Report October 7, 2013. on Careers.” Career Planning on About.com NP, 2011. Web December 11. “Summary.”. 2013.