During that period, just under 5,000 cases were mediated. Almost half of those cases were resolved at the conference. Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Institute of Government evaluated the Program during its pilot period. One of the factors studied was the reaction of litigants to mediation. Litigants who were surveyed consistently gave high marks to both their mediator and the mediation process.
Mediation is different from other forms of dispute resolution.
It is not a hearing or an abbreviated trial designed to determine who wins or who loses. Rather, it is a facilitated conference during which parties search for mutually agreeable solutions. Although mediation is less formal than a hearing or trial, it is still a legal proceeding guided by rules. The mediator will begin the conference by meeting with you, your opponent, and the attorneys involved in your case. The mediator will explain the ground rules for the discussions and will probably ask the attorneys to describe the case from their respective points of view.