A research of attitudes and opinions on the mediation training instructor: Turkey's Bar Association model

Today, interpersonal communication has increased rapidly in parallel with technological developments. This intensive process of communication has led to the emergence of many disputes. Inadequate legal systems in the face of increased competition and development of trade relations, has focused on different paths and began to produce alternative solutions in order to conduct justice in a healthy way and to establish social peace. Every society works to solve the resolutions of conflicts within the framework of their social norm and values. But the abstract distance between people has been removed with the effects of globalization, and problems that occur in any part of the world has started to affect all societies. A common understanding has evolved based on the results of research conducted by many countries and a mediation method has been developed as an alternative in dispute resolution. Following the developments in the world, "Mediation in Legal Disputes Act" Numbered 6325, was adopted in the Turkish legal system in 2013. According to the conditions stipulated by Article 20 of the Law, in order to become a mediator, one has to be a graduate from law school and must have at least five years of professional experience. But before starting to serve as a mediator, candidates are subjected to a training. If they succeed in the written and practical exam after the training, they are expected to fulfill their duty as a mediator. Successful development of the mediation system, with communication as a key factor in its basis, happens due to mediators receiving a quality education. In this context, it can be seen that there are no studies related to mediation training in the field of communications in Turkey. From this point, the first study on mediation trainings has been conducted. The main objective of the study is to evaluate the options that may arise during the improvement and enrichment of the existing situation of the performed mediation training for providing more effective mediation services, by benefiting from instructor attitudes and opinions. In the first part of the study, under the title of the general framework of the mediation system, the contents and functions of the mediation process, international mediation models and application of mediation in Turkey and functions are addressed according to the principles set out in law. In the second part, international best practices of mediation trainings and existing mediation training system in Turkey is examined with relation to the concept of communication. In the last part, a research is made about the attitudes and opinions of instructors teaching under to roof of the Bar Association of Turkey about the mediation trainings. This study was conducted using qualitative research techniques. Interviews were administered as data collection techniques. Data obtained from the semi-structured openended interviews made with participants were evaluated and interpreted. Keywords: Mediation, Mediation Training, Mediation and Communication Relationship, Communication