How to Find Justice in Mediation?
I’m Katherine Miller, and I’ve been a divorce attorney for over 30 years. I’ve also been a mediator for divorce and other disputes for almost that entire time. Since we’re in the middle of Mediation Week, I wanted to share something with you. Earlier today, I spoke with a fellow mediator who described mediation as “the place where justice and harmony come together,” and I thought that was such a beautiful sentiment, I had to share it with you.
Let me explain why.
I went to law school because I was passionate about justice, but I quickly realized—even during the first week of orientation—that law school wasn’t really about justice. So, what does justice mean? What did it mean to me, and what does it mean to you or to anyone going through a divorce or other disputes?
I believe justice means a sense of fairness, being treated with integrity, compassion, and understanding—not necessarily as a battle against the other person. It’s about finding a way to fit the outcome into our own internal sense of right and wrong, aligned with our values and priorities. Justice, in this sense, isn’t about winning in a courtroom, even though we call it the “justice system.” That’s because true justice is often connected to this other idea: harmony.
Harmony doesn’t mean that everything in mediation is always peaceful, with candles, incense, and angels singing Kumbaya in the background—that’s not what mediation is about. Instead, it involves a broader perspective that considers the people involved, their feelings, their situation, and sometimes factors that wouldn’t even be admissible in court but are incredibly important to the individuals in dispute.
So, if you’re seeking a resolution for any kind of conflict, I encourage you to think about mediation. Justice may not be found in a courtroom, but in mediation, you might just find a sense of harmony and a path forward in your life.
If you have any questions about mediation, don’t hesitate to reach out on our email address info@miller-law.com or call us at (914) 685-9805. I’d love to discuss it with you.
Thanks for listening.