To Zoom or Not to Zoom?

IT'S UP TO YOU (RL OFFERS SERVICES VIA ZOOM AND IN-PERSON)

RL OFFERS SERVICES VIA ZOOM AND IN-PERSON

__________________

INTRODUCTION

Zoom—an online audio and video conferencing platform—is a relative newcomer to mediation and collaborative law. It was born of necessity, but is here to stay. Parties, mediators and collaborative professionals have come to appreciate its many benefits.

Whether Zoom is right for you is up to you. Rickett Law (RL) provides services online via Zoom and in-person at RL’s office in Canby, Oregon.

IN-PERSON ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES

Meeting in-person will always have its advantages. It’s familiar. There’s no setup and no learning curve. Other participants are present for you to observe. Documents end up in your hands, not your inbox.

Downsides include: travel, childcare, parking and safety. Covid further complicates things. If masking is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control or the Oregon Health Authority, you’ll be required to wear a mask.

ZOOM ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES

Zoom is new. So, there’s a learning curve. Setup is required. Once done, you can participate on Zoom from anywhere, including the comfort of your own home. There’s no travel, parking or safety concerns. Childcare may not be a problem either. Children may be at home during Zoom conferences provided they’re kept out of earshot of all conversations. Pets, food and other home comforts are at your disposal. You don’t even have to get dressed up. Best of all, the results you achieve on Zoom are comparable to in-person mediation or collaborative law.

Downsides of Zoom include: its learning curve and setup, as mentioned above, as well privacy risks, less visible body language and virtual documents. Zoom crashers don’t pose much of a threat to privacy thanks to reliable technological protections. But there’s nothing—other than integrity—to prevent Zoom participants from engaging in prohibited activities, like recording conferences or allowing unauthorized persons to be present. As for other more minor disadvantages, most Zoom users find they’re a small price to pay in exchange for the platform’s many benefits.

TIPS FOR BEING ON ZOOM

Being on camera can be annoying and stressful, especially for new Zoom users. The following tips will help you feel more comfortable:

(1) use your computer, not your phone;

(2) position the camera at eye level or slightly above;

(3) light yourself from the front to avoid being backlit;

(4) look directly at the camera (this is the equivalent of looking others in the eye);

(5) position yourself in front of a non-disturbing background;

(6) exchange documents beforehand;

(7) obtain other participants’ cell phone numbers and email addresses in case of technical difficulties;

(8) don’t record any sessions (this is prohibited by privacy and confidentiality rules);

(9) don’t allow unauthorized persons access to conferences.

QUESTIONS?

If you have any questions about in-person or Zoom mediation and collaborative law services, click the “Contact RL” button below.