An advocate has an important place in mediation. In some areas of the country, mediation advocates are a separate specialty and are often useful in providing support to an attorney in the first one or two mediations the attorney attends. An advocate has four very important roles. The attorney has the burden of framing the negotiations in a manner aimed at persuading the other side. Since mediation is consensual, all negotiation needs to be aimed at persuading the other side.
Negotiation is underneath every action and is the reason for communicating.
Again, communication should be aimed at being persuasive. The strongest presence in terms of being persuasive and supportive is to appear reasonable and calm, to be in command and to appear confident. The advocate should be the calm at the center of the storm to protect and shelter the party. Short introductions can often be very useful in humanizing yourself. The lawyer on the other side knows your professional qualifications, his or her client needs to know your human qualifications.