According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Employment of arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators is projected to grow 10 percent from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations. This projected growth is driven by the fact that mediations and arbitrations are typically faster and less costly than litigation and may be required in certain types of legal cases”.
Cost effective, efficient and “legally binding”, resolve: Restorative Practices LLC integrates the principles of Social Work with the practice of Mediation to skillfully assist “disputing parties” to arrive at mutually beneficial terms from a therapeutic approach; prior to the pursuit of legal representation.
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Our distinction as a mediation practice is the resolution of disputes prior to the pursuit of costly legal representation.
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Our approach is diverse in strategically using skills from a variety of careers to resolve conflict through mediation
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Our cost is effective when considering legal and/or judicial expenses
| Lawsuit | Mediation |
|---|---|
| Average Attorney Fees: $250 – $600 hrly. | Mediation Fees: $150-$250 hrly |
| Costs Associated with Suits i.e. dispositions, court appearance, filing fees, copies, serving and delivering legal documents, travel expenses, etc. | Costs Associated with Mediation i.e. Pre-Mediation Assessment, intra/”out-of-state” travel expenses, conference room, etc. |
| Lengthy judicial proceedings | Minimum of two, maximum of four hours per Mediation Session |
| Outcome determined by a Judge | Disputants control outcome |
The Mediation Process
In the technological age, “in-person” communication is becoming a “lost art”; as evidenced by a decrease in social skills according to various research studies. Mediation is a process by which communication is facilitated between “disputing parties” by a “neutral third party” to reach mutually beneficial and/or agreeable terms.
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Per explanation of the mediation process, “all involved parties” (e.g. disputants, legal representatives, Mediator, etc.) voluntarily sign an Agreement to Mediate
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Disputants establish “rules of engagement” at the start of the mediation session
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Each disputant is allowed a set time to express their “point-of-view” of the dispute
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Disputants explore resolutions based on individual needs, desires, interests, options, values, etc. followed by a Mediator led facilitation of mutually beneficial resolutions
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Per reaching an agreement about specific mutually beneficial resolutions, a Mediation Settlement Agreement will be completed by disputants and signed by “all involved parties”.
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Failure to adhere to the Mediation Settlement Agreement, a legally binding written contract, by any and/or all disputants can result in the Mediation Settlement Agreement being enforced in a court of law pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure ‘664.6.