--- title: 2025 September url: https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-september --- # [2025 September](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-september "2025 September") [![Advocate Sept25 cvr ezine](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/images/issues/2025/09-september/Advocate-Sept25-cvr-ezine.jpg)](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/ezines/2025/September2025/html5/Advocate-Sept25-issue.html) Articles in this issue: ## [New laws on discovery in arbitration](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-september/new-laws-on-discovery-in-arbitration "New laws on discovery in arbitration") Plus other new consumer-friendly changes to California arbitration law effective January 1, 2025 [Rita Miller](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/rita-miller "Rita Miller") ## [Keeping up with changes in employment-arbitration law](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-september/keeping-up-with-changes-in-employment-arbitration-law "Keeping up with changes in employment-arbitration law") Recent developments from 2024 and 2025 [Stephen M. Benardo](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/stephen-m-benardo-2 "Stephen M. Benardo") ## [Recent developments in ADR under the “new” PAGA](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-september/recent-developments-in-adr-under-the-new-paga "Recent developments in ADR under the “new” PAGA") SB 92 and AB 2288 brought significant reforms to PAGA but created new issues [Barry M. Appell](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/barry-m-appell "Barry M. Appell") ## [Appealing adverse arbitration awards](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-september/appealing-adverse-arbitration-awards "Appealing adverse arbitration awards") Statutory bases sometimes present a navigable path forward [Gerald Serlin](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/gerald-serlin "Gerald Serlin") [Judith Posner](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/judith-posner "Judith Posner") ## [Enforceable, written mediation-settlement agreements](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-september/enforceable-written-mediation-settlement-agreements "Enforceable, written mediation-settlement agreements") An exception to mediation confidentiality [Michael S. Fields](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/michael-s-fields "Michael S. Fields") ## [Underinsured-motorist [UIM] arbitration](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-september/underinsured-motorist-uim-arbitration "Underinsured-motorist [UIM] arbitration") When the defendant has insufficient insurance, here is your guide to handling the UIM claim [Sanford Jossen](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/sanford-jossen "Sanford Jossen") ## [Time limits on mediation and arbitration](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-september/time-limits-on-mediation-and-arbitration "Time limits on mediation and arbitration") Time limits can have a material impact on viable cases – five-year “brought to trial” and 30-day limitations on payment of arbitration fees [Lindsey Bayman](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/lindsey-bayman "Lindsey Bayman") ## [When is an arbitration agreement enforceable?](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-september/when-is-an-arbitration-agreement-enforceable "When is an arbitration agreement enforceable?") A look at the statutes and caselaw, with special emphasis on today’s online agreements [Tricia Bigelow](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/tricia-bigelow "Tricia Bigelow") ## [The new statewide Judges Civil Mediation Program](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-september/the-new-statewide-judges-civil-mediation-program "The new statewide Judges Civil Mediation Program") The JCMP allows parties with little or no economic resources to avail themselves of a mediation, most often with an assigned retired judge [Charles H. Ervin](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/charles-h-ervin "Charles H. Ervin") ## [Private-mediator ethics in California](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-september/private-mediator-ethics-in-california "Private-mediator ethics in California") And the newly enacted State Bar neutral-certification program [Elizabeth R. Feffer](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/elizabeth-r-feffer "Elizabeth R. Feffer") ## [When arbitration is not required by the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA)](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-september/when-arbitration-is-not-required-by-the-federal-arbitration-act-faa "When arbitration is not required by the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA)") A guide to statutory exceptions [Maurice Sanchez](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/maurice-sanchez "Maurice Sanchez") ## [Mediating federal cases in the Central District of California](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-september/mediating-federal-cases-in-the-central-district-of-california "Mediating federal cases in the Central District of California") A blueprint for utilizing the Central District’s mediation program [Steve Sepassi](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/steve-sepassi "Steve Sepassi") ## [Effective probate mediations](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-september/effective-probate-mediations "Effective probate mediations") A probate court’s order to private mediation can include nonparties to the litigation [Marc P. Grismer](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/marc-p-grismer "Marc P. Grismer") ## [Bankruptcy mediation – Is it a trap for the unwary state court practitioner?](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-september/bankruptcy-mediation-is-it-a-trap-for-the-unwary-state-court-practitioner "Bankruptcy mediation – Is it a trap for the unwary state court practitioner?") Mediation in bankruptcy and non-bankruptcy proceedings are different animals [James Stang](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/james-stang "James Stang") ## [Recognizing and embracing cognitive bias in mediation](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-september/recognizing-and-embracing-cognitive-bias-in-mediation "Recognizing and embracing cognitive bias in mediation") If you can master only one mediation skill, utilizing cognitive biases would be an excellent choice [Ed Oster](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/ed-oster "Ed Oster") ## [“Together wherever we go”](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-september/together-wherever-we-go "“Together wherever we go”") Great events at which you can support us, so we can support our communities [Megan E. Klein](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/megan-e-klein-2 "Megan E. Klein") [Michelle M. West](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/michelle-m-west "Michelle M. West") ## [Hot August days](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-september/hot-august-days "Hot August days") From redistricting to the 2026 elections and the final push on CAOC-sponsored bills, August and early September are anything but quiet [Lea-Ann Tratten](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/lea-ann-tratten "Lea-Ann Tratten") ## [Mediation with Resolve Law Los Angeles](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-september/mediation-with-resolve-law-los-angeles "Mediation with Resolve Law Los Angeles") A free three-hour mediation program for settling cases in LA County Superior Court [Martin I. Aarons](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/martin-i-aarons "Martin I. Aarons") ## [Season of momentum](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-september/season-of-momentum "Season of momentum") Learning, leading, and lifting each other up [Aaron Hicks](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/aaron-hicks "Aaron Hicks")