Using Mediation To Resolve Conflicts
Last updated on March 6, 2025
Mediation allows parties in a dispute to work together to resolve their conflict without having to go to court. While mediation can be helpful and effective, having an experienced mediator facilitate the process makes all the difference in being able to successfully resolve your dispute through mediation. At the Mechanicsburg office of NOW Law & Mediation, we help our clients resolve disputes with quick and effective action.
What Is Mediation?
Mediation is a form of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) that allows a neutral third party, known as a mediator, to facilitate negotiations between parties in an effort to help them resolve a conflict. By its very nature, the process is designed to be less confrontational. It also allows for more creative and flexible solutions than traditional litigation.
Understanding The Mediation Process
Mediation aims to achieve a peaceful resolution. It helps all parties feel heard and satisfied with the outcome. The process typically involves:
- Mediator: Dialogue facilitated by a mediator who will help the parties uncover viable solutions.
- Attorneys: Each party has an attorney who will help protect their client’s best interests, while pursuing an agreeable solution.
- Parties: The parties in conflict will have an open discussion about resolving their issues and negotiate throughout the process.
- Witnesses or experts: Sometimes, witnesses or experts will provide information to help everyone make decisions based on the truths of the dispute
Throughout the collaborative process, our lawyers can help you gain an understanding of the issues in your dispute and reach a practical solution that everyone can be satisfied with.
What Are The Benefits Of Mediation?
Mediation is highly beneficial for a variety of reasons, especially when both sides of a disagreement are willing to cooperate. Some advantages of mediation include:
- If effective, mediation yields lasting resolutions that both parties can support.
- Facilitated negotiations keep both parties focused on productive dialogue and working towards a common goal—resolving the conflict.
- Mediation can allow for faster and more cost-effective solutions when compared to litigation.
- Parties have a more direct influence over the outcome of the dispute.
- Mediation also leaves an opportunity to pursue litigation if the negotiations are not fruitful.
Choosing mediation can be a strategic decision that preserves relationships and resources. Mediation is non-legally binding. Therefore, it still allows for legal recourse if a solution can’t be reached.
Our Alternative Dispute Resolution Services For A Range Of Cases
Our ADR services, experience and skills help parties resolve complex disputes in legal matters covering a broad range of practice areas including:
- Medical malpractice
- Legal malpractice
- Motor Vehicle accidents
- UM/UIM coverage
- Premises accidents
- Elderly/Nursing home claims
- Personal injury
- General liability
- Insurance disputes
- Negligence
- Property claims
- Consumer claims
- Small and large business disputes
- Employment claims
- Discrimination claims
- Environmental claims
- Family law
NOW Law & Mediation offers efficient, cost-effective, and impartial alternative dispute resolution services. Our attorneys have substantive knowledge and litigation experience to quickly understand issues in your case and help you reach a successful resolution outside of time-consuming, expensive and risky court proceedings.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mediation
When disputes arise that affect your family, litigation is often the least effective method of obtaining positive results. At NOW Law & Mediation, we know that mediation is not as familiar to most people as litigation, so we aim to demystify the process by providing answers to some common questions. If you have questions about your specific situation, our mediation lawyers are available for consultation appointments.
What is mediation in the context of family law, and how does it work?
When family disputes become a legal matter, whether that’s divorce, child custody battles, issues over property division or support, mediation can help. Mediation is a flexible process in which a neutral third party (the mediator) helps family members resolve their conflicts in a mutually agreeable way without having to go through the trauma of litigation.
Mediators facilitate communication between the opposing parties, helping them to understand each other’s position, work through the options and (hopefully) reach a voluntary agreement. Mediation may be required, in some cases, by the court before litigation proceeds or it can be done voluntarily. If an agreement is reached, it can be put into writing and submitted to the court for approval so that the agreement becomes binding.
What are the benefits of mediation for resolving family law disputes?
Mediation is excellent for family law disputes because it promotes cooperation and communication between the opposing parties. That can ultimately reduce conflict and preserve working relationships, which can be critical when children are involved. Mediation sessions, unlike court hearings, are also private – which can keep sensitive family issues from becoming public knowledge.
In mediation, the parties involved have more control over the outcome of their case, which is not something that happens with litigation. Since agreements are crafted voluntarily, they can be tailored to the family’s needs and agreements reached via mediation tend to have better compliance rates. Ultimately, mediation tends to be less stressful for families as a whole.
How can I prepare for a mediation session in a family law case?
To effectively prepare for mediation, talk to your attorney about what to expect. Make sure that you clearly understand what specific issues need to be addressed and stay focused. Set realistic goals that leave room for compromise because some give-and-take is required for mediation to be successful. Collect all the relevant documents you may need to support your position and make sure that they are well-organized before you begin.
Settle Things Through Mediation Today
If you are ready to pursue an ADR that allows you to have direct influence over the outcome of your dispute through guided collaboration, reach out to our Mechanicsburg office today. Call our Pennsylvania attorneys at 717-541-9205 or email us here to schedule your initial consultation and take the first step toward resolving your conflicts.