The Illinois Order of Referral to Court-Annexed Mediation is a legal process that allows parties to attempt to resolve a dispute through mediation before going to court. The process is required by the Illinois Supreme Court for all civil cases in Illinois. This process is designed to help parties work out an agreement to resolve their dispute without the need for a trial. The Illinois Order of Referral to Court-Annexed Mediation is composed of two different types of mediation: Early Neutral Evaluation and Traditional Court-Annexed Mediation. Early Neutral Evaluation (ENE) is a form of mediation that involves the parties presenting their case to a neutral evaluator. The evaluator is generally a qualified attorney or retired judge who is experienced in the subject of the dispute. The evaluator will then provide an opinion on the merits of the case, as well as the likely outcome if the case were to go to trial. Traditional Court-Annexed Mediation (TEAM) is a more traditional form of mediation that requires the parties to meet with a mediator to attempt to reach a resolution. The mediator is generally an attorney, retired judge, or experienced mediator who is familiar with the subject of the dispute. The mediator will help the parties negotiate an agreement and facilitate communication between them. The mediator is not allowed to give legal advice or impose a settlement on the parties. The Illinois Order of Referral to Court-Annexed Mediation is designed to help parties resolve their dispute without the need for a trial. This process can save the parties time and money, as well as reduce the amount of stress that can be associated with going to court.