In legal mediation, a qualified third party is hired to facilitate and steer conversations, ideally to settlement outside of the court system. Unlike a courtroom, a mediator does not have the legal authority to render or enforce a decision. There are also not any legal formats for introduction of evidence during a mediation meeting. The goal of a mediation meeting is to render an opinion in which both parties are satisfied. The mediator does not favor either party during their sessions, but is rather concerned with facilitating productive dialogue. When possible, it is recommended to search for a mediator individually. However, in many cases the court system will refer a list of approved mediators. For legal mediation to be successful, it is recommended that both parties walk into each session with an open mind.