Presenting your case to a judge is something that will be required in most court cases, even small claims court. It is often a very tiresome and slow procedure which can become very pricey as well. Choosing to go to mediation instead might be a superior option for you depending on the type of dispute you have.

In mediation, you will assemble in a indifferent area and confer the disagreement with a mediator there. Mediators are trained to help in legal disputes without getting emotionally involved. With this option you will not have to going infront of a judge and the mediator will not force your to a decision nor make any choices for you.

If mediation works for you, then you can rest easy knowing that it was a just result that both you and the other party have come together to agree upon. In court, the judge would have made the decisions for both of the parties.

If you are unable to come to an understanding in mediation, you can still opt to go to court and have a judge decide on the outcome of your case, but there is nothing to lose in choosing to go to mediation first.