PI mediation boost from FOIL and APILThe Forum of Insurance Lawyers (FOIL) and the Association of Personal Injury lawyers (APIL) are to step up their co-operation by increasing the profile of mediation among their members.The two bodies, which represent the opposing sides of personal injurylitigation practice, are co-operatingafter making presentations to the Civil Justice Council's alternative dispute resolution (ADR) sub-committee.Both groups gave strong endorsements to mediation and other ADR techniques, although they acknowledged that ADR is only useful forrelevant disputes.FOIL argued that one of the problems that currently dissuades claimants defendants and insurers from opting for mediation is the length of time it takes.

Whereas only three hours are generally allotted by judges to a mediation process, in personal injury cases the process usually takes nearer eight hours.In order to promote common standards for mediators and an approved system of ADR training relevant to FOIL and APIL's practice areas, the two organisations have agreed to team up to produce a joint directory of approved accredited mediators.

FOIL and APIL have arranged to meet in London at the end of this month.FOIL spokesman Andrew Parker said the two bodies may set up a joint mediation body to provide mediators for the members of the two groups.

APIL president Frances McCarthy said co-operation was a good thing and could work in members' interests.

She said that talk of a joint body was 'a bit premature', but said APIL would take things 'one step at a time'.The two groups first began working together in October 1998, when they held a joint forum to discuss establishing a code of best practice.

Jeremy Fleming