Strathclyde Mediation Clinic celebrates 100th case

The bulk of mediations have taken place in Glasgow’s party litigants’ court and the success of the scheme has made a very positive impression on the bench. Sheriff Anwar explained how she now encourages parties to discuss their claims with the in-court mediators, knowing that the majority will settle and almost all terms are fulfilled.

The clinic’s director, Charlie Irvine, attributed the scheme’s achievements to long hours of hard work by postgraduate students on the LLM in Mediation and Conflict Resolution, alongside positive support from the Sheriff Principal, sheriff clerks and individual sheriffs.

He also thanked the head of the Law School, Professor Bryan Clark, for his encouragement. Mr Irvine described small claims mediation as “oiling the wheels of the justice system” and looked forward to the day when such schemes are available throughout Scotland - the clinic has just started a second project in Lanark Sheriff Court.