ADR is a growing field, partly because of the increase in litigation and the backlog of court cases in many localities. A mediator is a neutral third party that you hire to help you resolve a dispute. The mediator's role is to help people reach an agreement. Mediation differs from arbitration in that an arbitrator can usually impose a solution on the parties, while a mediator cannot.
Mediation is an informal process where two parties sit down with an independent third party.
This third party, the mediator, acts as a facilitator to help the parties focus on the issues and create solutions which are acceptable to both sides. The mediator then reduces the agreement to writing and the parties take it to their attorneys for approval before they sign it. Almost any dispute can be resolved by mediation if both parties desire a solution. Many courts have the option of referring a divorcing couple to mediation. Mediation is also used in personal injury lawsuits to help reach a settlement quickly without a trial.