The Illinois Stipulation for Appointment of Mediator is a legally binding agreement that is used in order to appoint a neutral third-party mediator to assist the parties in resolving their legal dispute out of court. This agreement is used when both parties agree to mediate their dispute instead of going through the traditional court system. It outlines the parties’ agreement to enter into mediation, the qualifications of the mediator, the terms of the mediation, and the process for selecting the mediator. There are two types of Illinois Stipulation for Appointment of Mediator: voluntary and mandatory. A voluntary stipulation is one that is entered into by both parties, and it is usually done with the guidance of attorneys. A mandatory stipulation is one that is ordered by a court or tribunal. Both types of stipulations may be used to appoint a mediator and resolve a legal dispute.