(a) Diligence A mediator must make reasonable efforts to advance the mediation in a timely manner. If a mediator schedules a mediation for a specific time period, he or she must keep that time period free of other commitments.
Rule 3.857.Quality of mediation process
Division 8. Alternative Dispute Resolution · Chapter 3. General Rules Relating to Mediation of Civil Cases · Article 2. Rules of Conduct for Mediators in Court-Connected Mediation Programs for Civil Cases · Last amended 2007 · Last verified July 29, 2026
In one sentenceThis rule sets out the mediator’s duties for running a quality mediation — acting diligently, keeping the process procedurally fair, explaining how it works, staying out of dual roles, disclosing referral interests, and knowing when and how to suspend, terminate, or withdraw from a session.
Full Text of Rule 3.857
(b) Procedural fairness A mediator must conduct the mediation proceedings in a procedurally fair manner. “Procedural fairness” means a balanced process in which each party is given an opportunity to participate and make uncoerced decisions. A mediator is not obligated to ensure the substantive fairness of an agreement reached by the parties.
(c) Explanation of process In addition to the requirements of rule 3.853 (voluntary participation and self- determination), rule 3.854(a) (confidentiality), and (d) of this rule (representation and other professional services), at or before the outset of the mediation the mediator must provide all participants with a general explanation of:
(1) The nature of the mediation process;
(2) The procedures to be used; and
(3) The roles of the mediator, the parties, and the other participants. (Subd (c) amended effective January 1, 2007.)
(d) Representation and other professional services A mediator must inform all participants, at or before the outset of the first mediation session, that during the mediation he or she will not represent any participant as a lawyer or perform professional services in any capacity other than as an impartial mediator. Subject to the principles of impartiality and self-determination, a mediator may provide information or opinions that he or she is qualified by training or experience to provide.
(e) Recommending other services A mediator may recommend the use of other services in connection with a mediation and may recommend particular providers of other services. However, a mediator must disclose any related personal or financial interests if recommending the services of specific individuals or organizations.
(f) Nonparticipants’ interests A mediator may bring to the attention of the parties the interests of others who are not participating in the mediation but who may be affected by agreements reached as a result of the mediation.
(g) Combining mediation with other ADR processes A mediator must exercise caution in combining mediation with other alternative dispute resolution (ADR) processes and may do so only with the informed consent of the parties and in a manner consistent with any applicable law or court order. The mediator must inform the parties of the general natures of the different processes and the consequences of revealing information during any one process that might be used for decision making in another process, and must give the parties the opportunity to select another neutral for the subsequent process. If the parties consent to a combination of processes, the mediator must clearly inform the participants when the transition from one process to another is occurring.
(h) Settlement agreements Consistent with (d), a mediator may present possible settlement options and terms for discussion. A mediator may also assist the parties in preparing a written settlement agreement, provided that in doing so the mediator confines the assistance to stating the settlement as determined by the parties. (Subd (h) amended effective January 1, 2007.)
(i) Discretionary termination and withdrawal A mediator may suspend or terminate the mediation or withdraw as mediator when he or she reasonably believes the circumstances require it, including when he or she suspects that:
(1) The mediation is being used to further illegal conduct;
(2) A participant is unable to participate meaningfully in negotiations; or
(3) Continuation of the process would cause significant harm to any participant or a third party.
(j) Manner of withdrawal When a mediator determines that it is necessary to suspend or terminate a mediation or to withdraw, the mediator must do so without violating the obligation of confidentiality and in a manner that will cause the least possible harm to the participants.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 3.857 is the longest and most wide-ranging of the conduct standards, covering everything from scheduling to how a mediator exits a case gone wrong. It opens with diligence — once a mediator blocks out time for a mediation, that time needs to stay clear of other commitments — and procedural fairness, meaning every party gets a real chance to participate and make decisions free of pressure, even though the mediator has no duty to police whether the resulting deal is substantively fair to both sides.
Several subdivisions manage the boundaries of the mediator’s role. Before things get underway, the mediator has to walk participants through how the process will work and who does what. During the mediation, the mediator cannot double as anyone’s lawyer or provide other professional services, though sharing an informed opinion or relevant information stays permitted. If the mediator points people toward outside services or providers, any personal or financial stake in that referral has to come out into the open. The rule also covers mixing mediation with other dispute resolution methods, cautioning mediators to get informed consent and give parties a real choice about whether the same neutral handles a later process.
The final subdivisions deal with endings. A mediator can suspend, terminate, or step away when continuing would enable illegal conduct, when someone cannot meaningfully take part, or when pressing forward risks real harm to a participant or a third party — but the exit itself has to protect confidentiality and minimize the damage to everyone still in the room.
Advisory Committee Comment
The following comment is published by the Judicial Council of California alongside the rule itself — not commentary from this site.
Subdivision (c). The explanation of the mediation process should include a description of the mediator’s style of mediation. Subdivision (d). Subject to the principles of impartiality and self-determination, and if qualified to do so, a mediator may (1) discuss a party’s options, including a range of possible outcomes in an adjudicative process; (2) offer a personal evaluation of or opinion on a set of facts as presented, which should be clearly identified as a personal evaluation or opinion; or (3) communicate the mediator’s opinion or view of what the law is or how it applies to the subject of the mediation, provided that the mediator does not also advise any participant about how to adhere to the law or on what position the participant should take in light of that opinion. One question that frequently arises is whether a mediator’s assessment of claims, defenses, or possible litigation outcomes constitutes legal advice or the practice of law. Similar questions may arise when accounting, architecture, construction, counseling, medicine, real estate, or other licensed professions are relevant to a mediation. This rule does not determine what constitutes the practice of law or any other licensed profession. A mediator should be cautious when providing any information or opinion related to any field for which a professional license is required, in order to avoid doing so in a manner that may constitute the practice of a profession for which the mediator is not licensed, or in a manner that may violate the regulations of a profession that the mediator is licensed to practice. A mediator should exercise particular caution when discussing the law with unrepresented parties and should inform such parties that they may seek independent advice from a lawyer. Subdivision (i). Subdivision (i)(2) is not intended to establish any new responsibility or diminish any existing responsibilities that a mediator may have, under the Americans With Disabilities Act or other similar law, to attempt to accommodate physical or mental disabilities of a participant in mediation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a mediator have to make sure a settlement is fair to both sides?
No. Rule 3.857 requires procedural fairness — a balanced process where each party can participate and decide without coercion — but it does not obligate the mediator to ensure the substance of the resulting agreement is fair.
Can a mediator act as a party’s lawyer during the mediation?
No. The mediator must tell participants at or before the first session that they will not act as anyone’s lawyer or provide other professional services during the mediation, beyond acting as the impartial mediator.
When can a mediator suspend or end a mediation?
When the mediator reasonably believes it is necessary, including situations where the mediation appears to be furthering illegal conduct, a participant cannot meaningfully take part, or continuing would cause significant harm to a participant or a third party.
What must a mediator disclose when recommending another provider or service?
Any personal or financial interest the mediator has in that recommendation, so the parties understand whether the referral is disinterested.
Amendment History
Rule 3.857 amended and renumbered effective January 1, 2007; adopted as rule 1620.7 effective January 1, 2003.
Source & verification. Rule text is reproduced verbatim from
the Judicial Council of California. Adopted by the Judicial Council of California.
Last verified July 29, 2026.
· Official source
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