Mediation can help to facilitate any discussion between parties who are in conflict or having difficulty.
Mediation can occur in cases where someone is thinking about or has started a legal action.
For example in a case where family issues are involved such as divorce or custody or between a victim and an offender in a criminal case. My neighbour once went to a mediation because he had a fight with another neighbour who had a barking dog. He did not pay for that mediation. Some organizations provide mediators who work as volunteers. These mediators do not get paid.