Once you have picked a Mediator

Each Mediator will have his or her own approach but they will all generally proceed as follows:

• The Mediator will arrange a meeting at a convenient mutually agreed neutral location.
• When the parties are all present the Mediator will explain in more detail how the Mediation will proceed.
• The Mediator will then ask each side to describe the dispute as they see it. The mediator will try to identify parts which are not in disagreement and note those that are.
• After this initial discussion the Mediator will request a series of private sessions with each of the parties, moving back and forth between the parties and bringing them together again at appropriate times.
• During the final private and joint sessions the Mediator will try to reduce the differences between the parties and will seek to obtain agreement by all parties on major and minor issues.
• Once a solution has been reached the Mediator will request that the terms of the agreement be put in writing and signed at the meeting.

The Location

You do not necessarily have to provide the Mediation venue yourself.

Either you, or the other party, may provide the necessary rooms if you both agree. Otherwise The ADR Centre has neutral facilities for the meeting, and arrangements can be made to hire these.

The Cost

This will vary depending on how complicated the problem is. However, the parties will share the cost of the Mediator whose basis of charge will be known and agreed before the Mediation commences. Apart from the Mediator’s charges and the parties giving up their own time there should be little additional costs unless the parties want to bring with them specialist advisers.

How long will it take?

This will depend on the number of parties involved and the complexity of the dispute. However, it will soon be obvious to the Mediator if an agreement is not possible in which case he will advise the parties that mediation will, on that occasion, not help them. Most Mediations do not last more than a few hours.