What are some of attorneys beefs about mediators.. they include attorneys who insist on joint sessions or refuse to convene joint sessions. In short, you must know the parties and advocates and chose the right path. Another beef is that mediators often give up too early. While there is always a desire not to waste the parties' time and money, often times when you reach an impasse that is when resolution becomes possible. Try to push through it using all the tools you have learned. A third beef is about mediators who do not require and encourage the sharing of mediation statements.. This is an important time to get approaches and views on the table and sets the stage for the mediation. Finally, attorneys often complain about mediators who, when requested or appropriate, will not meet with the attorneys outside the presence of their clients. If this comes up, you should not shy away from this, but tell their clients that sometimes during the course of a mediation it becomes important for you, as the mediator, to address some technical issues outside their presence and ask them if that is ok with them.. and then proceed. If they object then you are off the hook.