When can mediation be used?

Mediation can be used at any stage in a dispute where the people involved feel that an independent person may help them avoid matters getting out-of-hand and thereby involving even more time, stress and money.

How do I find a mediator?

Many professional organisations have lists of qualified mediators. Middlesex & Thames Valley Mediator (MTVM) has a panel of mediators. You can contact us by clicking here...

What are the qualifications of MTVM mediators?

All MTVM members have completed comprehensive training by a recognised training organisation and have gained formal accreditation to carry out mediations.

How do I start the mediation process?

Once those involved in the dispute have agreed to try mediation contact MTVM giving brief details of the problem. MTVM will respond to your enquiry with a list of mediators who would be most suitable to help you. Alternatively you can contact the National Mediation Helpline at www.nationalmediationhelpline.com.

What will mediation cost?

This will vary depending on how complicated the dispute is. However the parties share the cost of the mediator whose basis of charge will be known and agreed before the mediation starts.

What happens in a mediation?

Each mediator has their own approach but generally all will proceed as follows:

• The mediator will arrange a meeting at a convenient location
• When the parties are all present the mediator will explain in more detail how the mediation will proceed. He/she may well have already contacted you in advance.
• The mediator will then ask each party to summarize briefly the dispute as they see it.
• At this point the mediator may well suggest a series of confidential private meetings with each of the parties, moving between these meetings and, if appropriate, bringing the parties back together again for a joint session.

By this process the parties move towards a settlement of the dispute at which point an agreement is drawn up and signed at the meeting.

Where is the mediation located?

The mediation is arranged by the mediator at a location convenient to the parties. Either you or the other party may provide rooms or alternatively MTVM can arrange neutral facilities for the meeting.

Will mediation work?

Experience shows that mediation has a high success rate but of course there can be no guaranteed outcome. The mediator is there to help but it is up to the parties involved to develop their own agreement.

What happens if the other side refuses to mediate?

You may ask MTVM to try and persuade the other party to agree to try mediation. As already described in this leaflet there are a lot of good reasons to mediate a dispute.

How long does mediation take?

This also depends on the complexity of the dispute and the number of parties involved. Most mediations do not last more than a few hours.

What happens if there are more than two parties in dispute?

Mediation is very flexible process and ideally suited to multi-party disputes. By bringing all the parties together there is an opportunity to reach a mutually satisfactory settlement.