TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

To participate in a virtual Mediation, you will need:

• A strong, secured internet connection and
• Either a desktop computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone with the following features:
  • Web camera
  • Microphone
  • Headphones (optional to reduce background noise)

While it is encouraged that you participate in these virtual meetings via video conferencing, you may also participate telephonically. In this case you will simply need access to a telephone.

MAINTAINING CONFIDENTIALITY

In order to maintain the confidentiality of your Mediation sessions, we ask that you please adhere to the following guidelines:

• Please make sure that you are not in a public space (e. g. Starbucks).
• Make sure you are in an enclosed, private room where outside parties cannot hear you.
• Do not have third parties present during the video conference.
• Use a secured internet connection (do not use a public wi-fi network).
• Recording mediation sessions is NOT allowed.

PRIOR TO YOUR SESSION

Prior to your Mediation session, you will receive a Zoom meeting confirmation from our office via email, which will contain a Meeting Link, your Meeting ID, and the Meeting Password.

Please click on the Meeting Link a few minutes prior to your hearing. You may be prompted to download the Zoom Meetings application on your computer (if you have not already done so).

If you are using your telephone for audio, you will be prompted to enter a Participant ID.

After you enter the Meeting Password, you will enter a virtual ‘Waiting Room’.

Your Mediator, as the host of the meeting, will admit you to the online session from the Waiting Room.

BREAK-OUT ROOMS

For joint-session Mediations, each party (and their counsel) will be placed into a private virtual break-out room, similar to being placed into private conference rooms for in-person Mediations.

When you are in your break-out room, you will not be able to hear or see the other parties, and they will not be able to see or hear you.

Your Mediator will periodically join your break-out room to speak with you.

When your Mediator is with the other party in their break-out room, you will be on standby.

SCREEN-SHARING AND OTHER CAPABILITIES

Meeting participants will have the ability to share their computer screen. With this capability, you can share PowerPoint presentations, Word documents, photographs, exhibits, or anything else that may be on your computer screen.

WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY

If you experience technical difficulty or lose your connection to the hearing:

• First, try to log back into the meeting using the same Meeting ID and Meeting Password that were initially provided to you.
• If you are unable to log in, please call or text us at (310) 554-8995