TARRANT COUNTY, TX
Dispute Resolution Program
Support and Resources
Guide for Best Outcomes in Mediation
Arguing is Futile (BTDT – Been There Done That)
- Focus on now and the future and avoid unnecessary discussions of the past
- Focus on resolving conflict and not on assessing blame.
Communicate Respectfully
- Address others in a courteous manner and tone.
- Do not interrupt when another person is speaking.
- Avoid sarcastic, critical, defensive, threatening or judgmental communication/comments
Be Effective
- Assume each participant is acting in good faith.
- Be patient with each other, their lawyer, and the mediator.
- Listen carefully to stated goals and take actions/make decisions and compromises in furtherance of the shared goals.
- Explain why you desire a certain outcome rather than outright demanding an outcome.
- Call for a break if you feel that progress has ceased or if you are about to lose control.
Speak only for Yourself
- Use “I” instead of “You” sentences.
- Express their true interests.
- Be honest.
Litigation vs. Mediation
| COMPARE | Litigation | Mediation |
| Accessibility | Months or possible years | Usually days or weeks |
| Cost | Significant cost in terms of both time and money | Comparatively nominal |
| Preparation | Trial preparation is expensive,time consuming and costly | Should be through but is much less time consuming and costly |
| Risk | Is a Win/Lose situation. Each party’s fate is taken out of theirhands and placed into the hands of the judge and jury | Normally results in a Win/Win outcome with the parties mutually agreeing to a resolution that each is satisfied with. The process is risk free. It's completely confidential and if there is no resolution, the parties still have every legal remedy available to them. |
| Focus | The focus is primarily on the facts and the law. | The focus is on the parties' respective positions, issues, interests and emotions. All points of view are considered. |
| Procedure | Trial procedure is highly structured and for most parties, stressful and traumatic. | Is more informal and relaxed. Less threatening and stressful. Allows parties the opportunity to freely express themselves. |
| Results | Normally produces a winner and a loser resulting in at least one party being dissatisfied and unhappy. It is not uncommon for all parties involved to be less than satisfied with the outcome. | Generally, produces a favorable outcome with a high degree of satisfaction on the part of all parties with both the process and the results. Nationally, approximately 75% of all cases submitted to mediation result in an agreement between the parties. |
Helpful links
Texas A&M - The Texas A&M Legal Clinics are a teaching law firm that offers the community a limited range of legal services free of charge. The clinic offers legal services delivered by Texas A&M law students who are supervised by experienced lawyers.
Tarrant County Law Library - The Dell DeHay Law Library of Tarrant County serves the legal research needs of the Tarrant County legal community and the general public.
Tarrant County Dell Dehay Law Library
Texas State Law Library – provides resources to find legal aid or legal information with Librarians on hand to assist in navigating the resources.
Tarrant County Bar Association LegalLine - LegalLine is a community service program offered twice a month by the Tarrant County Bar Association. Volunteer attorneys from the Tarrant County Bar Association offer free advice to Tarrant County residents on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of every month.
Tarrant County Bar Association LegalLine
Legal Aid of Northwest Texas - a nonprofit organization that provides free civil legal help to low-income residents in Tarrant and other counties addressing legal issues with housing, public benefits, employment, family law, merchant/consumer conflict, eviction, disaster-related issues, and individual rights.
Texas Legal Services Center - helps income-eligible Texans access healthcare, safety, stability, housing, government benefits, and employment. All TLSC services are free.
Texas Law Help- TexasLawHelp.org is managed by Texas Legal Services Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. TLSC provides free legal services to underserved Texans in need.
Eviction in Texas: Landlord/Tenant Rights – Texas Young Lawyers Association presents a video project as a public resource to assist in the eviction process in JP courts.
Eviction in Texas: Landlord/Tenant Rights
Domestic Relations Office Legal Support Services - Legal Support Services litigates child and medical support matters and possession and access issues, including enforcements and modifications. They also review final orders proposed by self-presented litigants to ensure that the proposed order meets the Court’s requirements.
Domestic Relations Office Legal Support Services
Texas Access and Visitation Hotline - The Texas Office of the Attorney General Child Support Division operates a toll free telephone hotline which provides easy access for parents across Texas to basic legal information, education and resources on the following issues: access, visitation and custody; the child support order process; modifications and enforcements.