What Mediation in South Carolina Actually Looks Like

Video Transcript

So mediation is something that is now required under South Carolina law for every case. Before it can be on a trial roster, you have to go through the mediation process. Mediation is basically just a formal settlement conference. It’s an opportunity for every party who’s involved in the case to come together on one day, focus on that case, and see if it might be able to be resolved. Mediation is going to be something completely different from your deposition, which is a very formal proceeding where there’s a court reporter and you, the client, are asked a series of questions and are kind of put on the spot. During mediation, your attorney will handle everything. You can be a little bit more relaxed, and it’s just an opportunity to see if this might be a case that can get resolved. If it doesn’t get resolved on the day of mediation, it may still get resolved going forward — but it’s kind of the best chance to get a case resolved before really getting ready for trial.