Senior Partner and monthly columnist for the Chicago Lawyer Magazine Robert A. Clifford of Clifford Law Offices wrote his February, 2012 column called, “Navigating the Waters of Mediation.”
In this article, Clifford gives advice to his colleagues on how to properly approach mediation proceedings. Clifford advises lawyers to focus on a few main points, including the determination of the proper point in litigation to pursue mediation, allowing the client to be present for the mediation, and to never waiver in the commitment to bring a case to trial should mediation fail. Finally, and most importantly, if a plaintiff’s attorney feels that mediation is merely being used as a ploy by the defense to gain new information, it is essential to stop the proceedings at that point.