Star mediator's relaxed approach eases workload for judges and courts

Yu Hongbin is a star among the mediators at Beijing Fangshan District People's Court because he once used his skills to resolve more than 50 civil disputes in a single month.

The 55-year-old has worked part time at the court, mediating for simple civil cases, mainly related to finance and marriage, for more than five years.

He attributes his mediation efficiency to the rich experience he gained as a social worker and to diligent study.

Before he decided to spend time on mediation, he was busy providing social aid and dealing with domestic disputes in communities.

"Many people asked for my help when they argued with neighbors about domestic water leaks or if relatives were reluctant to repay loans, or similar," he said. "I like helping people and sharing what I have learned about the law with them."

Although he did not graduate from a law school, he has read many books related to legal issues and followed policies and guidelines on the rule of law in his leisure time.

His long involvement in social work means he is extremely patient during the mediation process, while his extended study of the law helps him identify the focus of disputes more quickly.

When the court's judges receive cases, they review the issues and select cases suitable for mediation. Then, they ask both sides if they agree to the process－if they agree, their dispute will be passed on to a mediator, such as Yu.

After going through the case materials, Yu speaks with both sides to ensure that they really want to solve the problem through mediation. He then writes a document for the judges, in which he identifies the focus of the dispute and how the two parties had reached an agreement.

"I'm allowed to ask the judges for help and guidance if I encounter any legal issues I'm unsure about or if either side decides to return to litigation during the mediation process," he said.

There are about 50 mediators at the court, many of whom work part time－some are former court employees such as retired judges and people's assessors.

According to a regulation issued by the Beijing High People's Court, part-time mediators should be at least age 65 and have a clean criminal record. They must hold a college degree or higher and have proven coordination, communication and writing skills.