Editor's Note: This article represents the first in atwo-part series about effective mediation advocacy. A.Michelle Jernigan and Bruce A. Blitman, who are both certified andexperienced mediators in the state of Florida, have authoredboth installments.

As advocates for their clients, attorneys must pay as closeattention to every detail pertaining to the mediation processas they would to each element of trial preparation. Other partiesclosely observe everything that attorneys and their clientsdo—or fail to do—during mediation, meaning that everythingcounts.

For many years, disputing parties had their cases adjudicatedthrough the civilized warfare of trials; however, over the last 25years, lawyers have spent considerably less time in the courtroomand much more time in the conference room.¹ Thisreduction in courtroom time has helped attorneys to reduce theirclients’ transaction costs, maximize net returns, and minimize riskand potential exposure by settling disputes atmediation.