In a mediation process, the parties approach their case with the objective of seeking peaceful resolution. Mediation can take place through or with no attorneys in attendance, and can have diverse arrangements and approaches depending on the training and preference of the mediator and the inclinations of the parties.

Transformative mediation is premeditated to facilitate the parties attain insights and reach deep resolution of underlying emotional issues, which makes available the key to resolving more on the surface issues. Transformative mediation is a comparatively new expansion in the mediation line of work, and requires a highly urbanized and difficult to get hold of skill-set by the mediator. It is practiced by relatively few mediators.

Facilitative is the mainly common type of mediation, and uses methods to aid a discussion between the parties with the objective to come to a declaration that is right for them, free of legal rights. Facilitative mediation tends to be need-based instead of rights-based mediation, and will more or less always have the parties jointly in the same room with the mediator. Facilitative mediation will time and again assist parties by having them work on communication and problem-solving skills during the mediation assembly.

The key disadvantage to facilitative and transformative mediation is the inadequate information and support that is provided. The mediator have to stay neutral, usually may not offer legal or other guidance, and there not even be a requirement that important information is disclosed by the parties. Mediation and compromise almost always means that one or both sides willingly give up a few legal rights. Facilitative mediation is almost certainly not suitable where there is a noteworthy disparity in negotiating power, such as in cases of physical or emotional abuse, or if one of the parties feels cowed by the other. If you are in such a situation but are considering mediation, it will be important to communicate your concerns to the mediator at the beginning of the session.

Hence, "evaluative" mediation is the replica most frequently practiced by lawyer-mediators, the mediator shares his/her viewpoint of how the court might view the legal issues, and will try to forge agreement based on the mediator's view of the law. Lawyer-mediators trained in both facilitative and evaluative models may use various hybrid approaches to help the parties reach agreement. If successful, the mediation results in a written agreement and agreed court orders to formalize the agreement.

The main disadvantages with evaluative mediation are that it usually happens after parties have been well-established in their positions, and decisions are made on the basis of the strength of legal positions rather than on the basis of what is most important to the parties. Generally, both sides are pushed to finding the middle ground from their positions, with the result that both may feel bitterness. The process tends to be expensive and inefficient because the parties are usually in separate rooms and cannot talk to each other. Because of the unsatisfactory emotional component, a sizable number of settlements that result from evaluative mediations tend to be relatively short-lived, as resentful parties may be reluctant to comply with decisions they feel they were pushed into.