| You have something that is very valuable, | | | | charge. Ask if they are predominantly |
| something that a lot of lawyers would pay | | | | mediators or if they also do litigation. Ask |
| good money for…. And you don't even | | | | them if it would be worth $250 for you to |
| know it. With just a little effort, you can | | | | bring them a couple and do the translation |
| have a very good part time income, on your | | | | for the day. You may have to negotiate your |
| day off, without even straining yourself. If | | | | translation fee but you are worth at least |
| you are fluent in English and any other | | | | $150! Just to compare, I have done over 185 |
| language, if you are part of an ethnic | | | | mediations and have 100% success rate. I only |
| community and can get the word out, you can | | | | do mediation, nothing else. On average it |
| make money translating for divorce mediators. | | | | takes me between 4-7 hours to do a mediation. |
| Think about it, all day long you are hearing | | | | I have very special skills that most lawyers |
| about your client's personal problems. Some | | | | don't have in that I was a special education |
| of them come to you because you speak their | | | | teacher for many years and have a Masters in |
| language. They trust you and they don't know | | | | teaching severely emotionally disturbed |
| what lawyer to use when they want to divorce. | | | | children, so I have yet to meet a couple I |
| They need help and can pay for it. | | | | couldn't work with. But there are a lot of |
| | | | skilled mediators who are dying for new |
| Do you know how many couples are still | | | | business. It is best to work with a lawyer |
| together just because they don't know how to | | | | who is a mediator, that way they can do all |
| navigate the American legal system? They have | | | | the legal forms and get everything done for |
| heard the horror stories about nasty divorces | | | | the couple. But you need to watch out for |
| and they don't want to get involved in an | | | | lawyers who say they are mediators but are |
| ugly court fight. Those kinds of couples are | | | | really just trying to cash in on a good |
| PERFECT for mediation. If you don't know | | | | thing. Make sure that at least half their |
| those people, you want to find them. You want | | | | practice involves mediation. With just a |
| to ask around the community and see who fits | | | | little work, you can have a steady stream of |
| this description. Now it is time to find a | | | | clients to translate for and you can help |
| mediator. | | | | others and yourself at the same time. |
| | | | |
| Find a good phone book and look under Divorce | | | | Ms. Rachman has been a family law attorney |
| Assistance or Mediation. Call around and | | | | since 1996 and has become so disheartened by |
| interview the lawyers. Tell them that you are | | | | our adversarial legal system that she walked |
| looking to establish a referral relationship | | | | away from a successful law practice and now |
| with a great mediator. Ask them how many | | | | only works with couples doing mediation. She |
| mediations they have done and what their | | | | is interested in hearing from bilingual |
| success rate is. Ask them how long a | | | | translators and will pay top dollar for their |
| mediation usually takes and how much they | | | | services. |