Since 2015 I have been practicing in the capacity of a Mediator, primarily for Family Law cases. I am of the firm belief that parties are far better served attending mediation with the goal of settling the matter. The reasoning here is fivefold:

·         Parties know precisely what they are getting when they arrive at a settlement agreement, as opposed to a contested hearing and waiting for the gavel to fall to see how the Judge is going to rule!

·         If the parties are unable to come to full settlement, parties may be able to arrive at a partial settlement, thus minimizing issues to be litigated and therefore, minimizing litigation costs.

·         I have found should the parties be unable to arrive at any settlement, the attorney has a greater awareness of the issues that truly matter to the client.

·         The cost of mediation is far less than the cost of litigation, especially in matters that are to be tried before a jury.

·         Finally, in family matters involving children, long after the judges and lawyers are gone from the lives of the parties, the parties still remain “joined at the hip,” to some extent, due to the activities of the kids (no matter what age). The less we attorneys leave in the nasty wake of our client’s lives, the better these families can focus on the things that really matter…the kids!