Section 4 - Initiation of Proceedings4.1 A mediation proceeding shall be initiated by submitting a petition and electronically signed mediation agreement online through the OFDR system on the OSB website. The petition must be submitted and electronically signed by one of the parties to the dispute within 6 years of the completion of the legal services involved in the dispute.4.2 An arbitration proceeding shall be initiated by submitting a petition and arbitration agreement online through the OFDR system on the OSB website. The petition must be submitted and electronically signed by one of the parties to the dispute within 6 years of the completion of the legal services involved in the dispute.4.3 Upon submission of a petition to mediate and mediation agreement electronically signed by the petitioning party, the petition and the agreement will be sent to the respondent named in the petition by electronic mail. Any supporting documents submitted with the petition will also be electronically provided to the respondent. If the respondent desires to submit the dispute to mediation or arbitration the respondent shall register and indicate their agreement to participate in mediation or arbitration via the OFDR system within twenty-one (21) days of receipt. A twenty-one (21) day extension of time to respond to the petition may be granted by the Administrator. Failure to electonically respond to the agreement via the OFDR system within the specified time shall be deemed a rejection of the request to mediate or arbitrate.4.4 A lawyer who is retained by a client who was referred by the OSB Modest Means Program or OSB Lawyer Referral Program may not decline to arbitrate if such client files a petition for fee arbitration.4.5 If the respondent agrees to mediate or arbitrate, the petitioner shall pay the $35.00 filing fee online.The filing fee may be waived at the discretion of the Administrator based on the submission of a statement of the petitioner's assets and liabilities reflecting inability to pay. The filing fee shall not be refunded, except on a showing satisfactory to General Counsel of extraordinary circumstances or hardship4.6 If the request to mediate or arbitrate is rejected, the petitioner will be notified via the ODFR system of the rejection and of any stated reasons for the rejection.4.7 The petition, mediation agreement, arbitration agreement, and statement of assets and liabilities shall be in the form available in the OFDR system, provided however, that mediation and arbitration agreements may be modified with the consent of both parties and the approval of General Counsel.4.8 After the parties have electronically signed an agreement to mediate or arbitrate, if one party requests that a mediation or arbitration proceeding not continue, the Administrator shall dismiss the proceeding. A dismissed proceeding will be reopened only upon agreement of the parties. A dismissed arbitration will also be reopened upon receipt of a copy of an order compelling arbitration pursuant to ORS 36.625.