Mediation Dictionary:
A reference guide of terminology relating to the gentle art of mediation
Land Use Mediation --- Land use mediation is the resolution of dispute that has evolved due to a disagreement of how, where, or why a particular area of property is either going to be or is being used. These disputes can be quite heated as people have very strong opinions on this topic. Land use mediation is usually multi-party and the act of locating all the interested parties can often take months to complete.
Legal Advocates --- Legal Advocates work or volunteer at community programs, providing support to victims of domestic abuse. They explain the legal process, provide information and give referrals to legal or social service agencies. Although an advocate may accompany you to court he/she cannot speak for you. If you use an advocate, you are acting as your own attorney.
Legal Custody --- This means the right to determine the child's upbringing, including education, health care and religious training. [see also J for "Joint Legal Custody" and P for "Physical Custody."]
Litigation --- Conducting a case through the courts. Litigation is started by the Claimant against the Defendant with each party instructing attorneys.
Legitimacy --- Legitimacy refers to the perceived fairness of a dispute resolution process.
Liquidated damages --- A court award available under some laws (Equal Pay Act) where the employer's violation was either willful or in reckless disregard of the law or the employee's rights thereunder. Such award generally provides for attorney fees and an amount equal to and in addition to the lost wages and benefits.
Lockout --- Shutdown of a worksite by the employer to discourage union membership or activity or to force employees to meet the demands or economic terms of the employer.
Logrolling --- Or Log Rolling, it is a negotiation strategy that involves making concessions or the 'trading-off' of issues so as to capitalize on their own respective and different strengths of preference for the issues involved in a negotiation.
Lose-Lose Situations --- This is a conflict or competition in which one side wins only if another side loses. [See also Win-Win.]
"Lumping it"; "giving up" or "yielding" --- is probably the most common way of handling grievances in all cultures. ("That's life; don't complain; no-one will listen to you; it's not worth the hassle" etc)
