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Mediation

Published: 11:43AM BST 11 Jan 2010

Mediation is a way of resolving a dispute without going to court.

What is a legal dispute?

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It is very successful, with as many as 80% of all mediations ending in some sort of settlement for the participants.

Mediation is an informal process designed to allow the parties to have their say and get to the bottom of what's really bothering them, in the hope they'll be able to settle their differences.

Mediation can be much less expensive than going to Court. A one hour mediation can cost as little as £50 plus VAT per party. There are agencies who'll arrange the mediation and provide a venue and a mediator for a fixed price.

The participants can choose the mediator, or have someone selected for them.

Before the mediation you'll be asked to sign a mediation agreement, which tells the parties how the mediation will work and about the role of the mediator.

The mediation will usually start with the parties and the mediator together. The mediator will invite the parties to say a little bit about why they've come to mediation and what they're hoping to achieve. If the parties don't want to meet at the start, they don't have to.

After the initial meeting the parties will go to separate rooms and the mediator will go back and forth between them to try to help them reach an agreement and settle the dispute.

Some mediations can go on for a full day, or even last several days, depending on how complicated the dispute is. This can be agreed in advance.

If the parties are able to resolve their differences, a settlement agreement will be drawn-up and the parties will be asked to sign it. This will create a binding contract and the parties must comply with it.