59/100LFR Score
Ranked #1 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 3.9★ from 20 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Mediation service”.
Mediators in Bristol, VA: 2026 rankings
7 mediators ranked by LFR ScoreUpdated 0 paid placements in this rankingHow we rank →
The short answer
- 1
Highest LFR Score in Bristol: The Hutson Mediation Firm, PLLC, LFR Score 59/100; 3.9★ from 20 Google reviews.
- 3
Most-reviewed: The Senter Law Firm, PC, 51 Google reviews at 4.3★, the most of 7 ranked; ranked #3.
Rankings can't be bought. Lawyers can't pay to change their rank or score. How we rank
7 Bristol mediators are ranked here by LFR Score, from nine published factors. The median Google rating is 4.3★ across 7 rated law firms.
Top 7 mediators in Bristol at a glance
Ranked by our published LFR Score from public data, not by payment; a rank is not an endorsement or a prediction of results.
| Rank | Business | LFR Score | Google rating | Based in | Notable for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Hutson Mediation Firm, PLLC | 59 | 3.9★ (20) | Johnson City, 21 mi away | Top score |
| 2 | Jason H Arthur Law Office & Mediation Center | 57 | 4.7★ (31) | Elizabethton, 17 mi away | — |
| 3 | The Senter Law Firm, PC | 56 | 4.3★ (51) | Bristol, 1 mi away | Most reviews |
| 4 | The Law Office of Keith A. Hopson, PLLC | 52 | 4.8★ (23) | Kingsport, 21 mi away | — |
| 5 | Janice A. Russell | 51 | 4.2★ (31) | Johnson City, 23 mi away | — |
| 6 | Law Office of Dwayne Fortner | 50 | 4.3★ (16) | Elizabethton, 17 mi away | — |
| 7 | The Reliance Law Group - Bristol | 50 | 5.0★ (4) | Bristol | — |
All 7 mediators in Bristol, in rank order
Ordered by LFR Score, a 0–100 score from nine published factors. Paid placement never changes the order.
Ranked by our published LFR Score from public data, not by payment; a rank is not an endorsement or a prediction of results.
Scores below: based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected. Hatched segments mark factors we don't have yet.
Based in Elizabethton, 17 mi away
57/100LFR ScoreRanked #2 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.7★ from 31 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Law firm”.
Based in Bristol, 1 mi away
56/100LFR ScoreRanked #3 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.3★ from 51 Google reviews, the most in Bristol.
Based in Kingsport, 21 mi away
52/100LFR ScoreRanked #4 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.8★ from 23 Google reviews.
Based in Johnson City, 23 mi away
51/100LFR ScoreRanked #5 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.2★ from 31 Google reviews.
Based in Elizabethton, 17 mi away
50/100LFR ScoreRanked #6 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.3★ from 16 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Bankruptcy attorney”.
Based in Bristol
50/100LFR ScoreRanked #7 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 5.0★ from 4 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Attorney”.
How we ranked Bristol mediators
We scored 7 Bristol mediators on nine factors, weighted as shown. A law firm is ranked when its practice area is confirmed and it has 3 or more Google reviews or a claimed profile. A law firm with no Google reviews scores zero on rating, review volume and recency. Other unknown factors are left out, not counted as zero. Scores last refreshed November 9, 2026.
Paid placement never changes a rank or score. Attorney advertising businesses are paid, labelled, limited to 3 and shown above the ranking, outside it.
| Factor | Weight | Computed from | In Bristol data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reputation | 25% | Google star rating, adjusted for how many reviews back it | Measured |
| Bar status | 10% | An active bar or law society record matched to a lawyer at the firm (not measured until a record source is loaded) | Not yet collected |
| Review volume | 10% | Number of Google reviews, compared with the most-reviewed firm on the list | Measured |
| Recency | 10% | Share of reviews from the last 12 months | Not yet collected |
| Availability | 5% | Weekly office hours, Saturday, Sunday, and phones answered 24/7 | Measured |
| Practice focus | 15% | How clearly the firm practises this area (its Google category and name) | Measured |
| Proximity | 5% | An office in the city scores highest, less the farther away it is | Measured |
| Claimed profile | 10% | The firm has claimed its Law Firms Ranked profile (free and paid earn the same) | Measured |
| Law Firms Ranked reviews | 10% | Verified client reviews collected by Law Firms Ranked: their rating and how many there are | Measured |
How to choose a mediator
- Check the lawyer’s status and any public discipline in the state bar or law society directory.
- Ask how many mediation matters the lawyer handles each year, and who at the firm will do the work.
- Get the fee arrangement in writing: hourly, flat or contingency, and which costs are charged on top.
- Ask how and how often the firm will update you, and how fast it answers calls and emails.
- Read recent reviews for how the firm communicated and billed, not only for outcomes.
- Ask whether the mediator is a lawyer, what mediation training or accreditation they hold, and how many matters like yours they have mediated.
- Meet more than one firm; many offer a short first consultation, sometimes free.
Questions to ask a mediator
- How would you approach a matter like mine, and what are the realistic options?
- How do you charge, and what will the total likely cost?
- Who will be my main contact, and how quickly do you reply?
- Are you a lawyer, and who prepares the written agreement?
- How many sessions does a matter like ours usually take?
- Is there any conflict of interest that would stop you representing me?
Terms explained
- Contingency fee
- A fee that is a share of the money recovered, paid only if there is a recovery. Common in injury cases; not allowed for criminal defense or for securing a divorce.
- Retainer
- Money paid up front and held in a trust account, which the lawyer draws on as fees are earned.
- Flat fee
- One set price for a defined piece of work, such as a will or an uncontested matter.
- Limited-scope representation
- Paying a lawyer for part of a matter only, such as reviewing documents or coaching for one hearing (also called unbundled services).
- Statute of limitations
- The deadline to file a lawsuit or charge. It differs by state or province and by type of claim.
- Good standing
- A lawyer’s status as active and eligible to practise with a state bar or law society.
- Law society
- The body that licenses and disciplines lawyers in a Canadian province or territory.
- Board certification
- Recognition in a field of law by a state program or an organisation accredited for that purpose. Lawyers may only claim it when they hold it, naming the certifying body.
- Attorney–client privilege
- The rule that keeps confidential communications between a client and lawyer, made for legal advice, out of court.
- Conflict check
- The search a firm runs before taking a matter to make sure it does not represent someone on the other side.
- Pro bono
- Legal work done for free, usually for people who cannot afford a lawyer.
- Legal aid
- Publicly funded legal help for people with low incomes, through legal aid offices, public defenders or provincial legal aid plans.
Mediators in Bristol: frequently asked questions
Which mediator has the highest LFR Score in Bristol?
By LFR Score, the highest-ranked mediator in Bristol, VA is The Hutson Mediation Firm, PLLC with an LFR Score of 59/100. It has 3.9★ from 20 Google reviews. Jason H Arthur Law Office & Mediation Center (#2) and The Senter Law Firm, PC (#3) follow. We ranked 7 mediators on nine factors, last updated November 9, 2026.
How many mediators are there in Bristol?
LawFirmsRanked ranks 7 mediators serving Bristol, VA. 1 of them is based in Bristol; the rest serve it from nearby towns. Counts are as of November 2026.
What Google rating do Bristol mediators have?
The median Google rating among 7 rated mediators in Bristol is 4.3★, with a median of 23 reviews. The Senter Law Firm, PC has the most, 51 reviews, and ranks #3. We adjust ratings for review count, so a few five-star reviews cannot top the list.
How does LawFirmsRanked rank mediators?
Each mediator gets a 0–100 LFR Score from nine published factors, led by reputation (25%), practice focus (15%), review volume (10%) and recency (10%). A law firm with no Google reviews scores zero on rating, review volume and recency; other factors we cannot measure are left out. Only law firms with a confirmed practice area and 3 or more reviews, or a claimed profile, are ranked.
Do mediators outside Bristol count in this ranking?
Yes, if they are within 40 mi of the Bristol city center, our service radius for mediators. Each listing shows where the law firm is based and how far away it is. Proximity is 5% of the LFR Score, so a nearby law firm gets a small edge.
Can mediators pay to rank higher on LawFirmsRanked?
No. The LFR Score never reads payment status, and this ranking has 0 paid placements. Up to 3 Featured law firms may appear above the list, labelled Attorney advertising and showing their honest rank.
How do mediators in Bristol, VA charge?
Mediators usually charge by the hour or a flat fee per session, and the cost is often split between the two sides. Ask for the fee arrangement in writing before you agree.
Is an agreement reached in mediation legally binding?
Mediation is voluntary and the mediator does not decide anything. If both sides agree, the terms are usually written up and signed, and in a divorce or custody matter filed with the court to become binding. Each side can have its own lawyer review the agreement first. This is general information, not legal advice.
How is this list of mediators in Bristol, VA ranked?
By LFR Score only, from public data on reviews, practice focus, office location and hours. Firms labelled “Attorney advertising” paid for that placement; payment never changes a rank, and a rank is not an endorsement.
Does a lawyer need an office in Bristol?
No, but the lawyer must be licensed in your state (or, for federal matters such as immigration, in some state). A local office makes meetings and court appearances easier, so proximity is one of our factors.
Update log for Bristol
- November 2026: LFR Scores recalculated for 7 mediators serving Bristol.
More mediators and Bristol pages
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