Sometimes people become involved in disputes which, although very important and worrying to those concerned, are better resolved outside the comparatively expensive court system. Some disputes do not have a legal solution, while others may be made worse by court action. There are a number of advantages of Alternative Dispute Resolution in general (and mediation in particular) over litigation:

it is usually faster and less costly

people have a chance to tell their story as they see it

it is more flexible and responsive to the individual needs of the people involved

it is more informal

the parties' involvement in the process creates greater commitment to the result so that compliance is more likely

the confidential nature of the process

Alternative Dispute Resolution is more likely to preserve goodwill or at least not escalate the conflict, which is especially important in situations where there is a continuing relationship.