What Is Mediation?

When people mediate disputes, they meet informally with their attorneys to explore settlement with the help of a “neutral” or mediator who is usually a judge or an attorney.  Mediation is binding only if the parties reach an agreement during the meeting. The parties choose the mediator and schedule the mediation at their convenience.  Usually the parties split the cost of the mediator and the fees of any administrator of the process.  There are companies who provide panels of available mediators to parties, as well as individual, private mediators from which parties may choose.