Mediations sometimes end with collaborative, forward-looking, mutually beneficial agreements. Many more times, mediation serves the clients' interests simply by bringing the lawsuit to its end faster and at lower cost than continued litigation would permit. The ability of participants to reach these highly utile agreements is directly proportional to the extent to which the underlying conflicts are first explored. Generally, the parties are in litigation in the first place because they have not been able to work the dispute out on their own. There is anger, or something else highly-charged between them, which prevents the rational negotiations which can lead to settlement.
Mediation offers participants the opportunity to vent their anger and dissipate that charge.
Then rational negotiations can get back on track. The best litigators will understand completely both when and how to do so. Their clients will benefit greatly from the exhibition of this skill. All this generally takes place over the course of but a single day. The difference is control.