Mediation: A Change in Finnish Court Culture?

Abstract

The topic of this chapter is court-connected mediation and how mediation has affected the court culture in civil cases in Finland. The focus is on the three following dimensions of the mediation system: on legislative, theoretical, and practical changes. The main normative change was the act that came into force in 2006. The new legislation led gradually to changes in practice as well. A significant amount of cases in the District Courts go to mediation today. The law defines judges also as mediators, and in practice many judges are trained and experienced mediators. Also, the theoretical framework for courts has expanded, since mediation theories constitute a relevant basis for the mediation process. The change in culture is also multidirectional. Not only has mediation moved into the legalistic court culture, but also the legal context affects mediation. Mediation has changed court culture by providing an alternative to court trial and it has brought new dimensions to the definition, role and function of courts of law.