Mediation is the process of facilitated communication between opposing parties by an impartial third party, known as the mediator. The objective of the mediator is to assist the parties in reaching a mutually acceptable agreement to end the litigation. Mediators typically use two core techniques to assist the parties. One technique is reality testing, which serves to challenge the party's current perspective on the case. The second technique is probing for underlying interests, which serves to open up a range of creative solutions to resolve the case. Mediation can be attended with or without your attorney. A mediator is a neutral and does not advocate for either party.