Preparing for a mediation requires almost as much work as a hearing, however what I point out  is the great advantage with mediation is that you still have control over the outcome, whereas in court it is completely up to the Judge.  Mediation generally are for a day and it depends on the complexity of the dispute.  I have undertaken a complex commercial mediation with a private mediator and it cost $30,000 but it settled on the day and if it had of continued to a hearing it would have cost around $150k.

Honestly I have to agree with Phil, however, Nicole brings up a great point.  Truth is there are many mitigating factors.  It is always a good idea to find a mediator who has direct experience in your specific issue.  And like every other service you may buy, make sure you check references to learn just how good they are at their job.  That can mean a lot to you as your negotiation proceeds.  Like everything else we do, it is always wise to check out our bedfellows carefully to avoid getting caught up with someone not really able to achieve the goal we need or want.  Cost for this will vary widely depending on the deal you cut for the work, how extensive that work turns out to be, is it required that they travel and what are the hard costs involved.  Reality is somewhere between Phil and Nicole but can be higher.

Hi there,
This is a frequently asked question and unfortunately there is no definitive answer. The cost of mediation varies greatly depending on factors such as the dispute at hand, the arena in which you mediate and the experience/level of the mediator. For example, community mediation fees are considerably lower than commercial mediation. You will also pay much higher fees for a mediator with extensive experience and a notable reputation. While every case will be different, you can expect to pay from $300 per hour for a litigation lawyer. Hope this helps.

Thanks Hatty.

Hello,
I am a commercial mediator who specialises in helping people avoid litigation.  Without knowing the size or complexity of the matter I can only give you a ballpark figure which would be $1,500 to $5,000.  This also depends on who you select as the mediator.  I'd be happy to chat to you about the process and gove you amore accurate estimate.  More details about me are at www.growingbeyond.com.au.
Best wishes
Nicole

Would be great to get you involved in this discussion @Lisa Ormenyessy @Steve Osborne @Steven Freeman @Katherine Hawes @Marc Shaffer