Understand the process you are attending
Ask whether the meeting is mediation, arbitration, a settlement conference, or another process. Those labels are not interchangeable. The San Luis Obispo Superior Court’s ADR guide describes mediation as a process in which a neutral helps parties work toward resolution rather than deciding the dispute.
For California court-connected mediation, Rule 3.853 addresses voluntary agreement and party self-determination. Attendance requirements and other program rules must still be checked. Do not assume a general online description governs your particular meeting.
Build a compact preparation packet
Prepare a timeline, the key documents, an itemized loss worksheet, prior offers, and a list of disputed issues. Identify missing information that could affect a decision. Ask the program what must be submitted, to whom, in what format, and by when.
An invented example: both sides agree that a repair cost $1,200 but disagree about who authorized an additional $300. A focused packet includes the authorization messages and invoice, not unrelated years of correspondence. Organize around the actual points of disagreement.
List practical priorities and questions
Money may be only one issue. Payment timing, return of property, correction of records, or ending a continuing dispute may also matter. Write down what needs to be understood before you can evaluate a proposal.
Discuss legal risks and options with your own lawyer where appropriate. Confirm who has authority to agree, whether another person or insurer must approve, and how remote participation or accessibility needs will be handled. Ask about fees rather than assuming a program is free.
Plan how an agreement would be reviewed
Have a method for reading the full terms and obtaining clarification. Do not let a verbal summary replace the actual written document. Identify any obligations, release language, and payment conditions that need explanation.
If no agreement is reached, ask what the next procedural steps are and continue monitoring existing deadlines. Do not assume the meeting pauses them. Good preparation helps you participate clearly; it does not require a particular compromise or guarantee that the dispute will settle.