What is Mediation?
Mediation is a process of dispute resolution in which an impartial third party, the mediator, helps two or more parties to attempt to reach agreement. It is a voluntary, confidential, non-binding process that seeks to address the underlying causes of conflict. The final outcome of mediation is agreed by the parties, not the mediator, that way they take ownership of the solution.
Benefits
Mediation is quicker, less stressful and cheaper than going to court and addresses not just the financial but the emotional side of any dispute.
Protracted legal disputes can take months and even years to be settled by a court. Mediation can be carried out in one day.
It can cost tens of thousands of pounds to take a dispute to court. Mediation can be carried out for as little as a thousand pounds.
The emotional costs of being in a dispute are often very damaging to everyone, stress creates ill health, absenteeism and unhappiness. Mediation allows parties to reach a win-win solution and move on with their lives.
Once agreement has been reached parties tend to keep to it, because they have prepared the terms themselves.