Benefits of MediationMediation is generally less costly than conducting a negotiation through lawyers. First of all the two parties are sharing one mediator's fee. Secondly, mediation hourly rates are often lower than the rates of lawyers with comparable years' experience. And the mediation process is often a faster one because the parties are focusing on solving problems rather than building a case against each other. Introductory, individual meetings with parties in family mediation cases are charged at a flat rate of one hour's time, although the meeting usually lasts one and half hours.