When you are faced with a legal issue that may need to be taken to court, it may be advisable to attempt mediation first. Overall mediation can achieve a more favorable outcome with less money and time that issues that need to be resolved using the court system.
In the court system your case is usually public knowledge. However through mediation cases are kept private and confidential. Courts take a lot of time and are usually lengthened by conflicting schedules between parties, attorneys, judges, etc. In mediation you set the schedule. Of course there are several people’s schedules you still need to deal with, but overall you are much less likely to experience significant delays in scheduling as you would in the courts.
Judges have very little time to hear or review your individual case. Sometimes they have less than five minutes to hear what you have to say. In fact, you may only get a minute or two to testify in your own case. Through mediation services you are able to spend the time necessary to be heard. You are able to fully describe your situation and work on a solution. Many times you have to make split second decisions in crowded hallways on your case when dealing with the court system. In mediation, however, you are able to take the necessary time to think over your decision.
Court costs can become very expensive. Every delay costs money. Time that your attorney spends preparing your case and every hour your attorney spends waiting on your case costs you money even if there is no progress made. Through mediation you are able to control the cost for the most part. The cost of mediation tends to be about one-third of the cost of a typical court proceeding.
