That open and free exchange of information frees up both spouses to negotiate with each other in confidence. Because both spouses are working with the same base of information, it usually takes far less time to negotiate a resolution that makes sense to both spouses. You're welcome to bring your lawyer to mediation if you want to, or you can use your lawyer as an advisor between sessions. Don't let your lawyer make you feel that you must pay him or her to be with you during mediation. That's strictly up to you.
Mediation is voluntary.
Your mediator has to have a good reason to withdraw. You or your spouse can withdraw from mediation at any time, for a good reason, a bad reason, or no reason at all. In a word, yes. We know from years of research that when you compare couples who have mediated their divorce with couples who go through an adversarial divorce, mediating couples are more likely to be satisfied with the process and the results, likely to take less time and spend less money, and are less likely to go back to court later to fight about something. The main advantage of mediation is that it keeps you and your spouse in control of your own divorce.