On November 27, 2023, with the support of the USAID Rule of Law Program, the Mediators Association of Georgia (MAG) held a meeting with new members of the Georgian Bar Association (GBA).

The meeting enabled the newcomers to hear detailed information about the mediation process and understand the importance of effective representation of clients during the mediation process.

The event commenced with welcome remarks from Irakli Kandashvili, MAG Chairman, and Ekaterine Lortkipanidze, ADR Specialist for the USAID Rule of Law Program.

In his address, Mr. Kandashvili stressed the significance of lawyers possessing a comprehensive grasp of mediation. He emphasized that it is a reality that judges are referring cases to mediation (it is done automatically in the case of labor disputes) and that lawyers should be able to provide guidance to their clients about one of the efficient means of dispute resolution available now. He also pointed out the duty of a lawyer stipulated under the Code of Professional Ethics to inform a client about this possibility. He stressed that the manner in which lawyers’ articulate information about mediation significantly shapes clients' perceptions of this method of dispute resolution.  

Twenty-two new members of GBA representing Tbilisi, Rustavi, Sighnaghi and Gardabani participated in the event. The discussions centered on the advantages of mediation, the difference between court-annexed and private mediation, the need to include fees for the mediation process in a contract, and viewing mediation as a new avenue for self-realization. Newly admitted bar members who participated in the meeting discovered that integrating mediation as a possible option for dispute resolution could improve their capacity to offer comprehensive advice to their clients.

The regularly organized meetings with lawyers, supported by the USAID Rule of Law Program through grant support to MAG, are positively influencing the advancement of mediation in the country. These sessions are fostering a deeper understanding of and increased utilization of mediation as a method of dispute resolution.