Negotiated Solutions

Not every legal conflict needs to be fought bitterly in court. In certain cases, a form of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) known as mediation can be used to resolve issues. One of our attorneys, Jeffrey T. Mackie, was certified as a mediator in 1994 by the North Carolina Dispute Resolution Committee, and has conducted more than 1,000 mediations.

What Is Mediation?

In mediation, two opposing parties are encouraged to come to their own resolution instead of entrusting the final decision to a judge or other neutral third party. A mediation attorney facilitates communication between the two parties to a conflict, providing clarification, interpretation and facilitating information exchange. The goal of mediation is to provide parties to a conflict the opportunity to exert more personal control over the outcome of a dispute, often at far less cost than a traditional trial.

Will Mediation Work For Me?

In cases where mediation has not been court-ordered, mediation can work as long as both parties agree to try it in good faith. In situations where emotions are running high and one or both parties may be focused more on fault than resolution, mediation may not be the best alternative. That can sometimes occur in family law cases such as divorce mediations. In that case, our lawyers are prepared to represent your interests in other ways more appropriate to your situation.

Explore The Possibility Of Mediation

Contact our Hickory office today by calling us at 828-597-0533 or toll-free at 866-784-9938. We can discuss in more detail, if mediation might be an option when you come in for your initial consultation. We can also be reached via email.