How a mediation runs

First, separately — You each meet us alone, and nothing said there is repeated to the other person
Then, only if you both want to — A joint session — or shuttle, with the two of you in separate rooms
We keep the order — Not the agenda. What gets discussed is entirely yours to choose
If something is agreed — It's written up as a summary. Nobody signs anything in the room
You take it away — To your own lawyer if you want. Nothing binds either of you until you sign

Mediation

Nobody here decides who's right.

A mediator is not a judge and is not anybody's lawyer. We hold the room, keep it civil, and help two people find something they can both live with — and we tell you plainly when mediation is the wrong thing for your situation.

When we'd say no What it costs

When we'll tell you not to mediate

If you're frightened of them — Mediation needs two people able to speak freely. Fear makes that impossible, and we won't paper over it
If there has been abuse — We screen for it separately with each of you, and we stop rather than adapt
If one of you won't engage — It cannot be done to somebody. If it's a tactic on their side, you'd only pay to find that out
If a point of law has to be decided — Some questions need a judgment rather than a compromise, and a court decides those
If somebody needs protecting today — That is urgent, and it is not us. Go to the people whose job it is, now

We turn away a meaningful share of the people who contact us, and we would rather say so here than after taking a deposit. A mediator who never says no is selling the room instead of the process.

You never have to be in the same room

Separate first meetings, always

We meet each of you alone before anything joint happens. Nothing said in your meeting is repeated in theirs unless you specifically ask us to say it.

Shuttle, if you'd rather

Two rooms and we walk between them. Or two screens, or two buildings, or two different days — none of which needs explaining to anybody.

What that doesn't do

Shuttle keeps you apart inside a building. It does not make the process safe if you are frightened of the other person. Tell us that instead, and we will stop rather than adapt.

Who decides what, in the room

Whether to be there at all — Each of you, separately. Either can leave at any point without giving a reason
What gets talked about — The two of you. We keep the order; the agenda is yours
Whether an offer is fair — Not us. We can test it out loud — we cannot rate it for you
Whether to sign — You, after your own lawyer has read it if that's what you want
What happens if you don't agree — Nothing said here follows you. A court decides, on its own evidence
Who is right — Nobody in this room. That question belongs to a court, and mediation exists to avoid asking it

Ask about mediation

What it costs

The first separate meeting — $120 each, and either of you may stop there
A joint session — $220 an hour, split however you agree — usually down the middle
Shuttle — The same rate. It takes longer, and we say so before you book it
The written summary — $180, once, at the end
If we say no at the screening stage — You pay for that meeting and nothing else at all
Legal advice on the agreement — Your own lawyer's fee — and we recommend you spend it

Mediation is usually far cheaper than the alternative, but "cheaper than court" is not a reason to mediate a case that shouldn't be mediated. Cost is the last question here, not the first.

★★★★★

“We didn't agree on everything and it still worked. Four of the six things stopped being arguments, and the other two reached a court a great deal smaller.”

Names withheld

Workplace dispute

★★★★★

“They told us at the screening that we weren't ready, and to come back in two months. We did, and by then we were.”

R. and S.

By request

Only one of you needs to ask

If you'd rather not raise it with the other person yourself, we approach them — and we never repeat what you told us when we do.

Ask about mediation

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