Scott Univer, Esq. Mediation is an extension of the negotiating process. Instead, it is the mediator's very neutrality that frequently enables him or her to transcend the posturing of the parties so that their true concerns can be addressed. Submitting your dispute to AAA mediation will not delay any pending lawsuit or arbitration that you might have. Mediators who serve on the AAA's panel are experts in successful negotiations.
Mediators receive a fee from the parties for their services.
They are also rewarded by knowing that their efforts have resulted in an amicable settlement of a dispute that would have cost substantial time and money had it been litigated. The benefits of successfully mediating a dispute to settlement vary, depending on needs and interests of the parties. The most common advantages follow. Parties are directly engaged in negotiating the settlement. The mediator, as a neutral third party, can view the dispute objectively and can assist the parties in exploring alternatives that they might not have considered on their own.