Blog

Empathy in Mediation Is a Skill You Can Develop

Ask a room of lawyers which of them is empathetic and watch what happens. A few hands go up slowly. Most people look at the table. Underneath that is an assumption that empathy came issued at birth, and if you didn't get any, you facilitate paperwork and hope nobody...

Mediators Need Muscle Memory

Years ago, a client of mine was a Navy SEAL Commander. He was kind enough to permit me to bring a group of Boy Scouts I led to the Navy SEAL Training Center in Coronado. The kids were mesmerized. He showed us where the SEALs train, and where they suffer. We went to...

Don’t Panic: How to Stay Calm During Divorce Mediation by Trusting the Process

Fans of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy know that the guide offers one essential piece of advice in large, friendly letters: Don’t Panic. This is especially important when you’re wondering how to stay calm during divorce mediation. It is good advice for travelers...
Virtual Visitation Rights A Looming Legal Question

Good article about virtual visitation­. I have a move away case going to court now. One of the issues is whether virtual visits via webcam is sufficient to allow for bonding between child and parent. I wonder what others think about that. I say no. Read the Article at...

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Why Divorces Get Ugly and How to Have a Good One

In my experience­, the process of HOW one gets divorced has a huge impact on the ugliness. The early selection of a divorce process is crucial. If possible, avoid litigation and choose a form of alternate dispute resolution like collaborat­ive divorce or mediation....

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The Non-Custodial Mother

Interestin­g article about non-custod­ial women. As a family law attorney, I am meeting more and more women who choose this arrangment for various reasons. It is still true that many women feel stigmatize­d. I find this phenominum similar to the visceral reaction that...

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