Illinois Order for Mediation is a court-ordered legal process wherein parties to a dispute meet with a neutral third party, known as a mediator, to discuss the issues in dispute and resolve them without the need for a trial or other court proceedings. The purpose of mediation is to help the parties reach a mutually agreeable resolution to their conflict, while avoiding the time and expense of litigation. This process is available to individuals involved in disputes in Illinois state courts. There are two types of Illinois Order for Mediation: voluntary and mandatory. Voluntary mediation is initiated by the parties to the dispute, who agree to engage in mediation. Mandatory mediation is ordered by the court when the parties are unable to reach an agreement on their own. In either type of mediation, the parties are expected to participate in good faith and negotiate in an effort to reach a mutually acceptable resolution.