I often joke that I decided to be a mediator when I realized that scripture says, “blessed are the peacemakers” and not “blessed are the litigators.” The truth, however, is that I wanted to be a mediator since the day I graduated from law school.

When I was a summer clerk at a law firm, I attended a sexual harassment mediation with one of the partners. The whole process fascinated me. I then took a mediation course in law school from an adjunct professor who would go on to be a trusted mentor. I scored the highest grade in the class and later went to work at the law firm where my mediation professor was a partner. Even as a young associate, I knew I wanted to eventually work my way into a mediation practice. If you are a lawyer and like-minded, here are a few tips.