ATTORNEY v. MEDIATOR v. DIY

Read about your options below and decide if you want to hire an attorney.

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Traditional Litigation: one party’s attorney files a lawsuit and the other party’s attorney files an answer and/or counterclaim.

• Each party hires their own attorney.
• Attorneys gather information from their clients and fill out and file litigation forms with the court.
• Attorneys engage in discovery. During discovery, the attorneys will draft documents, review the information provided by the other party, and go back and forth for up to 6 months asking each other for information.
• Attorneys negotiate and attempt to resolve the case.
• If the attorneys cannot help resolve the case, it will often be referred to mediation.
• If an agreement cannot be reached, the attorneys will begin filing motions with the court.
• Court dates are set, and attorneys prepare their cases.
• Documents and arguments are presented in court.
• Witnesses or experts may be called to testify.
• The judge and/or jury will hear the case and render judgment based on their opinion of your case.

Mediation Process: parties can mediate before filing a lawsuit or after filing a lawsuit.

• Mediator is an independent, neutral third party.
• Mediator helps parties come to a decision that they agree on.
• Mediation focuses on identifying and negotiating issues.
• Parties have complete control over the agreement and decisions.
• The mediator actively encourages the negotiations.
• Mediation aims to resolve the dispute out of court.

Court Coach: you can call on a Court Coach as much or as little as you want. Click HERE for help from a Court Coach.

• Help you decide if you want to file a lawsuit.
• Help guide you through filing a lawsuit without an attorney (where to go, what forms you need, how to complete service of process, etc.)
• Help you understand court deadlines and put together the paperwork you will need for each step in the litigation process.
• Help you prepare for court.

Litigation DIY Process: each party is responsible for filing their lawsuit, answer, discovery, motions, etc. within the deadlines set by the State of Georgia and local court.

• Parties gather information and fill out and file all the forms the court requires.
• Parties engage in discovery. During discovery, each party will draft documents, review the information provided by the other party and use that information to file motions with the court.
• Parties negotiate and attempt to resolve the issues.
• If the parties cannot resolve the case, it will often be referred to mediation.
• If an agreement cannot be reached, the case goes to court.
• Court dates are set, and the parties prepare their cases.
• Documents and arguments are presented in court.
• Witnesses or experts may be called to testify.
• The judge and/or jury will hear the case and render judgment based on their opinion of your case.