No. I do recommend that you go to www.zoom.us and download the free Zoom client program. It’s free and the website is helpful and you’ll be comfortable in no time. You can participate in a mediation with me without the program but it helps to have it on your computer.

Go to https://zoom.us/ and click on the Sign Up, It’s Free button at the top right of the screen.

or

Go to https://zoom.us/, click on Resources at the top right of the screen, and then Download Zoom Client.

Take a look at my calendar and – with a few keystrokes – you can select an open date. My assistant (Cathy Conte, cathy@spinkmediationvt.com) will promptly respond to lock in the date. Cathy will confirm the arrangements and we are always available to answer your questions.

A Zoom invitation goes out by email. You “accept” and we’re all set. Please be sure to forward the Zoom invitation to your participants.

The Zoom invitation email we send you has a link. At the scheduled time, click on the Join Zoom Meeting link from your computer or other device and you will be connected to the mediation. The invitation email (both the Zoom invitation email and my email to all participants) contain the Meeting ID, any password you may need and a call-in number if the need arises.

No, but you will want a good, secure connection. It will work best with a strong signal (good WiFi or a hardwired connection) and it must be secure because mediation communications are confidential. Please: no public WiFi (coffee shops, airports, etc.)

Expect it to feel just like an in-person mediation except we communicate across screens rather than across the table from one another!

We will typically begin in a joint session for introductions and to hear any presentations.

Then, I create breakout rooms and I assign folks to their respective rooms and we begin our private caucus sessions. It works extremely well. In your breakout room, you will see and hear everyone on your team in that room and it is completely private. Nobody can see or overhear you from any other room.

Typically, there will be times when you will “kick me out” of your room so that you can speak privately without the mediator in the room. No problem. I can exit and then return when summoned.

Yes. 100%

Absolutely not. No recording is permitted.

As host, I can permit “screen sharing”. Any participant can share their (computer) screen with everyone. This can be useful to show a document or even a PowerPoint presentation. For this purpose, you will want a Zoom account on your computer. Note: remember that – when you share your screen – everyone can see whatever is on your computer so exercise caution so as not to share client confidential documents.

I can handle 100 participants on Zoom Pro. There is no limit to the number of breakout rooms so multi-party cases are easy.

No problem. I use Adobe Acrobat DC/Adobe Sign. I join with the lawyers in a breakout room designed for this purpose and we – together – craft and finalize the settlement agreement. I then circulate it for e-signature by everyone. Once signed, Adobe sends us all an email with the fully executed document.

The risk of a hacker interrupting our session is miniscule. My sessions are encrypted and password protected. Hackers get in where session links are publicly shared. We don’t do that.

Remember that there is a call in number in the Zoom invitation. You can always use your phone to simply call in.

Yes. Absolutely. Just be in touch. No charge.