• Less costly and quicker than a court battle  - agreements may be used for a lawyer to prepare a legal agreement or a court application.

• Informal, convenient, and engage authentically in a non-adversarial process.

• More likely to restore relationships needed for continuance, e.g., co-parenting and strengthening workplace teams by rebuilding trust.

• Parties maintain their authority to settle the dispute and can craft creative solutions that best meet their needs, rather than a 3rd party making the decision, e.g., arbitrator, tribunal, or judge. 

• Completely confidential, no information revealed or discussed during the mediation process can be used or released without the parties' agreement. 

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Considerations

• Mediation is voluntary. There is no guarantee that mediation will resolve the conflict. If the parties have no intention to make concessions to find common ground, then the likelihood of arriving at an agreement is slim. 

• A mediator cannot give legal advice. Therefore, parties are encouraged to obtain a legal opinion ​before mediation or before finalizing their settlement agreement. 

• Mediators do not decide who is right or wrong, take sides, offer advice, or impose solutions. 

• Parties usually share the costs of the mediator's fees and expenses.

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Mediation meetings can be in-person, by video conference, or by phone.