The Role of Attorneys During Divorce Mediation

There is a common misconception that divorce lawyers discourage mediation because it takes a lot of the issues of the divorce out of their hands. Both of these statements are untrue, however—the majority of attorneys support mediation whenever it is a feasible option for people going through a divorce, and there is still a role for attorneys to play when their clients opt for mediation.

Here’s a quick overview of what you should know about attorneys and the mediation process.

How attorneys help in mediation

Most people going through a divorce want to do everything they can to avoid the drawn-out, expensive process of contested divorces and divorce litigation. Therefore, attorneys will encourage their clients to give mediation a legitimate try first.

Your attorney can attend mediation sessions with you, and guide you through the process outside of the meeting room.

Rather than being the person tasked with representing you in court filings or in your divorce case in general, the attorney’s main role is to inform clients of their responsibilities during the divorce process, to answer any questions they have about the process, to coach them in mediation strategies, to draft and review settlement proposals, and to handle other paperwork needed to get a final agreement approved by the courts.

Attorneys may ask for an up-front retainer, or they may charge hourly rates. If they ask for a retainer, you can expect to be reimbursed for unused or unnecessary funds upon completion of the case.

For more information about the different ways attorneys can help their clients through the divorce mediation process, we encourage you to contact an experienced Long Island divorce lawyer at Solutions Divorce Mediation.