About Mediation

AN ALTERNATIVE TO GOING TO COURT

The Manchester Mediation Panel exists to help people settle any civil disputes without going to court.  Mediation is a voluntary and confidential process that involves the parties meeting with an impartial third person, the mediator, who will help them to communicate better with one another and reach their own agreed and informed solution to the dispute. It can be used in all types of cases.

The Panel consists of mediators who are recognised by one or more of the main organisations providing mediation services. It is divided into two sections: General (for all forms of civil disputes) and Business (for disputes for which specialised commercial experience is appropriate).

The Panel list will be maintained by the Manchester Law Society who will operate it on a rota basis. If the mediator accepts a referral, detailed arrangements will be made directly between the mediator and the parties or their legal advisers. If the mediator is unable to accept the referral, the parties will be offered the next name on the list.

The scheme is available both where court proceedings are contemplated and where they have actually begun. The Civil Procedure Rules enable the court to stay proceedings for a specified period for mediation to take place, both with the agreement of the parties and also when it appears to the court to be desirable. 

The cost of the mediation varies according to the value of Dispute. Fees are for a mediation of up to 1 day unless otherwise stated. If a mediation is not concluded in a single day and both the parties and the mediator wish to continue on a subsequent day, further fees will be a matter for negotiation between the parties and the mediator. 

If you would like a member of the Panel to be nominated as mediator in your dispute, you and the other party or parties to the dispute should complete the Request for Mediation form and send it to THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THE MANCHESTER LAW SOCIETY, 64 BRIDGE STREET, MANCHESTER M3 3BN. 

Request for Mediation