Frequently Asked Questions

What is Minute Mediator?

Minute Mediator is an online mediation service that helps you settle your case in under 30 Minutes, at a fraction of the cost of traditional mediation.

Who is Minute Mediator for?

Minute Mediator is for busy attorneys who want to:

• settle their case in minutes rather than hours;
• save thousands of dollars on failed mediations;
• avoid unnecessary scheduling delays;
• quickly get to YES without jeopardizing their settlement strategy

How does it work?

• Both sides log into the Minute Mediator website and pay a small fee for participating in the session
• The 30-minute clock starts. Plaintiff enters three demands. The Defendant enters three offers.
• If the Defendant’s offer exceeds the Plaintiff’s demand, the computer splits the difference and the case settles.
• If the parties are still apart, they are asked if they want to do another round. Rinse, repeat.
• If your case settles for over $15,000 you pay an additional success fee. If it doesn’t, no more cost and you are done.

It’s that easy.

Why should I use Minute Mediator?

Have you ever:

• Paid $5,000 for an eight-hour mediation session and have it crash and burn, with the parties miles apart?
• Made a “big move” in your number, only to get “rewarded” with a punch in the face and the other side hardly moving at all?
• Watched the Mediator in the kitchen break room reading the newspaper waiting for the next offer, and wondered to yourself, “Why am I paying him $500 an hour for that?”
• Had the Mediator regale you with his own “war stories” while you are paying his hourly fee?
• Tried to get a Mediator that both sides can agree on, only to find out that he or she is booked for three months?
• Traveled from out of town for a mediation, only to have the other side’s numbers be totally unreasonable?
• Paid outside counsel fees at a rate of hundreds of dollars an hour for a completely wasted mediation?
• Sat in your break-out room for two hours, waiting for the other side to give you a new number, wondering what they could possibly be doing in there?
• Gotten tired of eating M&Ms and jelly beans all day in your break-out room, thinking of all the work you have back at the office?

If any of these have happened to you, then Minute Mediator is for you!

Is it secure ?

We know your numbers are sensitive, and we take your privacy very seriously. Our security posture continually evolves to meet the rigorous standards of the legal industry.

In addition to following industry standards for security such as encryption and strict access control, we continuously monitor our systems for suspicious activity and stay informed on the latest security threats.

Only you see your numbers unless your case settles. Minute Mediator staff will only be able to associate your numbers with you with your express permission.

Don’t I need the Mediator to convince my opponent of the weaknesses in their case?

Really? Our experience is exactly the opposite. On many occasions, when the Mediator comes back with arguments from your opponent that your case is weak, both you and the client tend to viscerally react negatively, and this generally causes Mediation to become more difficult. When the parties finally agree to stop discussing the merits and just talk numbers, the emotion is removed and the mediation tends to go more smoothly.

What if I actually need the Mediator to make my own client realize that my client’s expectations are unreasonable?

I cannot disagree with you there. Minute Mediator cannot do that. But why don’t you try Minute Mediator for a nominal fee and if it fails, you can still use the Old School Mediator?

I am just not tech-savvy, what if I press the wrong button?

You thought you could not do a Zoom deposition, and now you are doing those depositions every week. You can do it! This system is super user-friendly.

What if one party types in their numbers and the other party dinks around and doesn’t type in their numbers until minute 29?

Yes, that can be a problem. As they say, it takes two to tango. You cannot have the numbers matched up until your opponent enters them. If this happens, try calling your opponent on his or her cell phone and nudge them to put in their numbers more quickly. The same thing is true if Round 1 is unsuccessful. Both sides need to agree to a second round in order for there to be a second round.

What if one side’s computer acts up, and they never enter a demand or offer? Will I still be charged a Session Fee?

If that occurs, and there are technical difficulties, just contact us about a refund for that session.

If you have any other questions, hit the Contact Us button and let us know what your issue is. We will be happy to help.

And if you have any questions, just get in touch