The best mediation client is an informed and educated client. Because knowledge is golden, a good divorce mediator strongly encourages a mediation client to meet with an independent attorney to provide each spouse with independent legal advice and the knowledge necessary to make long-lasting, educated, informed decisions. Some spouses may choose to meet with their reviewing attorney at the end of the mediation process so they can look over all the financial documents prepared in mediation and the draft separation agreement. Some spouses meet with a reviewing attorney only once, at the beginning of the process; others go to a reviewing attorney at the beginning and end of mediation, and others don’t go at all. An independent reviewing attorney charges by the hour and the cost should not be more than one to two hours of his or her hourly rate.