Mel

"In college, I worked in work study programs. I was a statistics note taker. I was a gate ticket collector at, uh, sporting events."

"I really have two roles, and they're two different functions. One is as an arbitrator and an arbitrator makes decisions like a judge does."

"In mediation, the parties can reach a solution that is completely different from what they could obtain in arbitration or in court."

"Arbitration is different in the sense that it is, uh, much more of a passive role as an arbitrator than as a mediator."

"Mediation is very much an intellectual challenge. It requires a lot of active brain power and a lot of understanding human nature"

"It can be very difficult at times to make a decision because both sides usually have very good arguments and you realize that only one side can win."

"I think it's helping people accomplish things so that they can succeed."

"The best, most successful people are self-directed. They are personable, um, engaging. They relate well to other people. They like responsibility."

"It's important to be open-minded, to think outside the box, and to be able to apply life experiences and common sense, not just legal analysis."

"positions that would give you an understanding of the career"

"You really have to give it your best effort or you are not doing the ethical job you're really, uh, required to do, to assist your client."

"it's helpful to do some public speaking and even theater, that both of those practices will get you used to speaking to others, speaking under pressure, memorizing, uh, speaking in front of a group and dealing with the stage fright that comes from, uh, the job when you're under pressure."