Many citizens in the US today are glad to know they have other options for dealing with lawsuits, aside from entering the conventional legal setting. If you have been through one or more long, drawn out battles in the courtroom, then handling a dispute in a more casual setting like mediation probably seems welcoming. For most, a court of law may seem very intimidating, and if you have not been there very often, you may feel anxious, overwhelmed, and awkward about how to handle yourself at nearly every turn. And while it is the job of an experienced attorney such as Shane Coons to see that you are as comfortable as possible while dealing with legal issues, you may have explored mediation as an option or it may have even been required in some cases to settle an issue like a divorce or a real-estate issue.

Mediation has been much more popular in the US in the past two decades, also allowing for many in the legal system to launch lucrative careers as a neutral third parties who help with more friendly negotiations. While training in mediation is required, a law degree is not. So, while you may get what you pay for in terms of a more casual atmosphere outside of the courtroom, in the right circumstances the outcome may be very positive for all, as well as expedient, and with as little animosity and adversity involved along the way as possible.

In eliminating the court setting, mediation offers the following benefits for parties seeking to resolve an issue:

• Scheduling is much easier, and the process can be much faster and less stressful.
• There is usually much less cost involved. Depending on your case, you may save tens of thousands of dollars—or far more.
• The setting is less intimidating and both parties may feel more comfortable participating and discussing the problem at hand.
• As a neutral party, the mediator is supposed to help both parties resolve the conflict themselves, leaving more of the power in their hands than that of a judge or the court system.
• What happens in mediation is private.

Mediation may not always be the best form of resolution though, especially if a case is particularly difficult and the parties are unable to budge. While some details of the case may have been ironed out in the time spent in mediation, in the end if no true resolution is found, everyone may find themselves in the courtroom after all, and starting over from the beginning. The attempts to negotiate in a more expedient and friendly manner are to be applauded, but there is often great benefit in relying on the strength of the court. There, you should have strong legal representation and a judge who can refer to years of experience on the bench as well as previous cases.

Do you need help with a legal issue? Call Shane Coons now at 949-333-0900 or email us at Shane.Coons@seclawoffices.com. We can review your case, answer your questions, and help you decide how to move forward. We are here to help!