Q&A with Riverdale Alumni, Ali Liénaux

Our “case studies” introduce students who have successfully completed our online family mediation training. We hope you appreciate their insights on how our training helped them build skills, establish their practices, and make a positive impact on families. For today’s post, we interviewed mental health practitioner, Ali Liénaux (Toronto, ON) Riverdale’s 30-Hour Family Law course exceeded my expectations as compared to the previous experience I had with York U. …
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Q&A with Riverdale Alumni, Abi Adeusi

Our “case studies” introduce students who have successfully completed our online family mediation training. We hope you appreciate their insights on how our training helped them build skills, establish their practices, and make a positive impact on families. For today’s post, we interviewed collaborative family lawyer and mediator, Abi Adeusi, of Abiola Adeusi Professional Corporation (Peterborough, ON) I learnt a lot from the fabulous coaches who provided valuable and …
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Mediation Planning: What Makes For Successful Mediation?

Meaningful intake interviews and effective screening for power imbalances lie at the heart of family mediation. A complete and accurate assessment of the parties’ respective sources of negotiation power to help inform process choice is the most important predictor of successful mediation. The next most important predictor is the degree to which the clients (and their lawyers) are well prepared. …
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Q&A with Riverdale Alumni, Bayly Guslits

Our “case studies” introduce students who have successfully completed our online family mediation training. We hope you appreciate their insights on how our training helped them build skills, establish their practices, and make a positive impact on families. For today’s post, we interviewed family lawyer, Bayly Guslits, of Harrison Pensa Family Law (London, Ontario). I really liked the emphasis on screening, and in particular the thoughtful and comprehensive approach …
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Q&A with Riverdale Alumni, Ryan Keheler

Our “case studies” introduce students who have successfully completed our family mediation training. We hope you appreciate their insights on how our training helped them build skills, establish their practices, and make a positive impact on families. For today’s post, we interviewed family lawyer and sole practitioner, Ryan Keleher, from Brantford, Ontario. “It was an excellent online training program which consisted of all the theory, precedents, lecture, role play, …
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Top Ten Questions about Screening for Power Imbalances and Domestic Violence in Mediation and Arbitration

1. What is “Screening”? Screening is a triaging process that has been used by mediators for years to help them provide safe and balanced mediations. The mediator meets separately with each party, before agreeing to take the case, and elicits specific information that will help the mediator “diagnose” their complex relationship dynamic. The main purpose is to ascertain whether bringing …
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What exactly is family mediation?

Family mediation is like a stepping stone in a fast-running brook. It usually will get you to the other side safely and dry. But sometimes the stone wobbles and another stone must be tried. MORE

Is it confidential? Is it binding? A recent case answers common questions about mediation

A recent decision of Justice A. Himel of the Newmarket Superior Court of Justice is instructive for family mediators, parties seeking mediation services and their lawyers. Butler v Butler addresses the question of mediation confidentiality, and whether an unsigned Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) can be enforced as an agreement. After a long day of closed (eg/confidential) mediation, the mediator dictated …
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