DR Spotlight is a Q&A series that focuses on Dispute Resolution Section members.
Will Oden lives in Wilmington, North Carolina, and has practiced with Ward and Smith, P.A. in the areas of employment law and workers’ compensation since 2004, when he graduated from law school. He also serves as a mediator in employment and workers’ compensation cases. According to Will, any virtues he possesses come directly from his parents; the fault for the rest lies with him.
The NCBA has offered five basic training courses in Collaborative Law Practice in the past, and is offering the next one Feb. 6-7 at the Grandover in Greensboro. Click here to view the brochure with all the details.
The Early Bird registration deadline is Jan. 16. Click here to register.
This 14-hour training is for any lawyer who wishes to add the collaborative approach to their practice, including both family lawyers and other civil lawyers, including those practicing in the areas of construction, employment, small business, probate, as well as litigation. Because collaborative is practiced entirely out of court, it is not necessary to have training or experience as a litigator to become a collaborative lawyer.
By Frank Laney
As a lawyer/mediator, I have had very few opportunities to participate in a mediation as a litigant. But I did once, which gave me some insight into why clients like mediation.
My wife and I were selling our house. A buyer looked at it, decided he wanted it, signed a purchase contract and put down a $1,000 deposit. There were some small repairs he wanted, which we hired a contractor to complete. Then a week or so later he decided he did not want to buy the house after all. Through our realtor we learned that our house was near where his ex-wife and children were going to live, but once his new girlfriend found out, she demanded that he not buy a house so near the ex-wife. All fine and understandable, but not a legal reason to break the contract, so I got to keep the $1,000. He threatened to sue, but after some persuasion, I got him to agree to mediation.
It is easy in today’s political and cultural environment to feel overwhelmed and completely helpless to affect any change. Conflict abounds. In a society focused on retributive justice, where traditional litigation approaches are the norm, advocating options for conflict resolution that fall on the alternative dispute resolution spectrum can often feel counter cultural. At times and among certain audiences, suggesting the collaborative law process is perceived as radical. Notwithstanding the inordinate amount of time, energy and effort that John Sarratt and the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Civil Collaborative Law Association (NCCCLA) have spent educating about and advocating for the use of the collaborative law approach in any civil dispute, I am still often on the receiving end of blank stares, quizzical looks, and frowns when I discuss the collaborative law process with other lawyers and clients. When this happens, it is easy to become discouraged, and the lawyerly ability to over analyze kicks into high gear. I worry that other litigators and even clients will perceive me as weak when I suggest alternative dispute resolution options rather than traditional litigation. At times, I wonder whether my zeal for conflict resolution has come on too strong. Then I remember those magical moments that fuel my passion for ADR …
Dear NC Mediators,
On Thursday, Oct. 18, the North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission (NCDRC) will host a reception in honor of Conflict Resolution Week. To kick off our celebration week, there will be a special proclamation given by Chief Justice Mark Martin. The reception will take place at the N.C. Judicial Center (901 Corporate Center Drive, Raleigh) from 8:30 – 10 a.m.
The first annual Up and Coming Mediator Award will be presented by NCDRC staff to Mr. Ketan Soni in honor and appreciation of his dedication and service to mediation in North Carolina.
Please reply to this email by Wednesday, October 10, to let us know whether you plan to attend.
By Frank Laney
A quality mediator needs to have expertise in facilitating communication and decision making, being a process expert.
There is a continuing debate about mediator qualifications, about what it takes to be a good mediator. The question is, “Does a good mediator simply need to be an expert on the Process of mediation, executing the procedure or task well, or does a mediator need to also understand or even be an expert on the Substance or subject matter of the dispute?” The answer to this question depends on the role of the mediator; what is the mediator’s central task? The role of the mediator is determined by the foundational elements of mediation – the Definition of Mediation and Mediator Ethics. Once we understand the role of the mediator, we can determine the qualifications needed to fulfill that role.
North Carolina is a leader in the country for innovative and effective dispute resolution for its citizens. That leadership came about through the hard work of North Carolina citizens who, in hindsight, seem to have had a crystal ball predicting the importance of aiding people in conflict to find ways to resolve their disputes outside of the courtroom.
To honor those who provided this groundwork and who continue to work tirelessly in the field of dispute resolution, the North Carolina Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section periodically recognizes an individual or individuals in North Carolina who has or have made a special commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes. Nominations are restricted to North Carolina residents who are selected by the Section’s Nominating Committee based on the award criteria[1].
Big, big shoes to fill!
I am excited to be a part of our inaugural blog that replaces the old-school Peacemaker, which served us well for decades. We are blessed with two fantastic editors who will edit and procure articles and launch us into this modern, easy, sassy way to communicate. Please send your ideas or proposed blog to our Blog Co-Editors Tara Muller ([email protected]) or Kate Deiter Maradei ([email protected]m).
Ron and Nancy Norelli and LeAnn Nease and Gordon Brown celebrate a great year at the NCBA Annual Meeting in Wilimington.
Wonderful news! Our Section has produced an NCBA president-elect! Please join me in congratulating LeAnn Nease Brown ([email protected]). She promises to be an outstanding president as her participation at the NCBA includes chairing three sections, the formidable CLE Committee and a host of other committees and projects. The breadth of her knowledge and true affection for our profession and her compassion and astute judgment will propel the NCBA to new heights as challenges and opportunities are addressed.
Attention all Dispute Resolution Section members: Your DR Council recently voted to join the ranks of most other NCBA Sections to create a blog page to replace the outdated newsletter system we had been using for Section communications. This new system will allow more rapid communication and more visibility. As a valued member of the DR section, you now will receive regular email updates about The Peacemaker blog. Please stay tuned for upcoming posts.
If you have an article or other post you feel would be helpful to our members, please send it to Tara Muller, your Newsletter Editor-turned-Blog Editor, at [email protected].
Also, we are starting a blog feature called Peacemakers’ War Stories. At the suggestion of some of the veteran council members, mediators now may contribute interesting/helpful/difficult issues they have encountered during mediations, and how they handled them…or wished they had handled them! If you are willing to share an experience and help other section members, please send a summary to Tara for inclusion in that section of the blog.
We are excited about this development and hope you are, too. Thank you for being a member of the DR Section.
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