GUIDE TO MEDIATION

Mediation is a private and confidential way of resolving disputes between two or more parties with the assistance of a neutral third party, the mediator.

Through mediation the parties define the issues, develop options and achieve a mutually-agreed upon resolution.

Mediation offers the parties a less expensive route than litigation for dispute resolution through non-traditional judicial forums.

Mediators have thorough training, competency, and continuing education. They use their skills, while remaining neutral, to move the parties through various impasse-points in a dispute. A mediator's qualifications include interpersonal skills, patience, empathy, intelligence, optimism, flexibility, experience and background.

The mediator guides the parties through the problem solving process and helps the parties to "think outside of the box" for possible solutions to the conflict.

Mediation can conclude quickly or it can take several hours, as the mediator tries to facilitate a monetary or other settlement to the dispute. A mediator does not, and cannot, by law, impose a solution on the parties.

For more detailed information about mediation, please click on the "FAQ" tab on this page.