Free aid

Only entities, whose founding documents state that they run and manage mediators’ lists, are allowed to do so. Meanwhile, universities managing such a list are obligated to submit it to the regional court Chief Justice, who oversees the list of mediators.

Any person having full legal and civic capacity can become a mediator. According to the guidelines of the Council for Alternative Dispute Resolution to the Minister of Justice, an at least 40-hour training, together with a certificate od completion, qualify to become a mediator.

Such a training should cover basic mediation rules, the psychological mechanisms of conflicts, a practical mediation training, and the rights and organisation during the mediation procedures.

It is also possible to be included on the mediator list after graduating from a postgraduate mediation course preparing for the profession of a mediator.

However, a mediator, who previously provided legal help or citizens advice to any of the parties in conflict, cannot run an free mediation between them. Neither can a witness, the author of the legal assessment of the case, a therapist consulted by any of the parties, an individual who ran a background check on the parties or who might not be impartial. In any of the above-mentioned circumstances the mediator refers the parties to a different mediator within the same facility or at a different facility.