Advantages of Mediation

The many benefits of using a mediator

There are many advantages to using mediation rather than going to court. Instead of putting your possibly complicated case to a judge who doesn’t know that much about your situation, mediation gives the participants the option of exploring every possibility after hearing each other's views. The conclusion to a court case can often be black and white, ignoring the nuances of the case. With mediation there can be a more proportionate outcome which more fairly reflects the situation.

The mediation process enables the participants to feel at ease in talking about their dispute as nothing anyone says or writes down can be used as evidence in court. Going to court can for many people, be stressful and time-consuming. When a solution is arrived at, it is the result of both parties agreeing.

The often frightening potential cost of a court case is a major factor in choosing mediation instead. Sometimes you can win a case but still be left out of pocket. Disputes can get out of hand as the disagreement become less about a legitimate grievance, and more about resentment towards the other party. Legal costs very often spiral out of control whereas mediation is a fixed one-off fee.               

Mediation can be arranged in a matter of days while court action can take months or even years.

If the parties cannot solve their differences in mediation then the dispute can still go to court afterwards. Mediation programmes are generally very successful however, and are encouraged by the courts.