Most mediations begin and end in a single day. As much as the parties would benefit from a leisurely pace to explore all the factual and legal issues, today’s practice is to schedule only one day, or even a half-day, to mediate a settlement. The result is often a settlement reached when counsel and parties are exhausted.

Did you get the best result for your client? Did you leave money on the table? Were there other remedies that you might have included in the settlement? If you have the luxury, the ideal procedure is to spend one day exploring the issues, likely outcomes, risks, possible remedies, then reconvene and turn to crafting a settlement.

Originally published on Law.com on May 18, 2015.