Ninety-something percent of civil cases settle, and a large share of them settle in mediation, yet almost nothing about how a mediation actually works is taught. This article explains what happens in the room, why the mediator behaves the way they do, and what separates lawyers and parties who do well from those who do not. It covers the structure — convening, joint session, caucus, shuttle, mediator's proposal — and what each phase is for. It explains the negotiation mechanics that actually move numbers: anchoring, concession patterns, bracketing, and the difference between a reservation value and a wish. It covers the confidentiality rules that make candor possible and their limits, including what Rule 408 does and does not protect. It explains who really has authority in the room and why the adjuster's reserve matters more than the merits. It covers the drafting that turns a handshake into an enforceable agreement, and the jurisdictional trap identified in Kokkonen. A fictional mediation runs throughout.