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 much-needed guidance and feedback. The case studies were very realistic and certainly prepared me for the real-life situations that I am currently encountering in my practical 100-hour training.
Why did you decide to take mediation training?
The breakdown of a relationship is often very distressing to most families and especially children. As a litigator for many years, I have observed that whether clients win or lose, they still have a sense of dissatisfaction when a “stranger” who does not know them and has never met them makes decisions for their family. I decided to take the mediation training as I believe that parties or parents are best situated to make decisions about their own unique family and children.
I find that clients want to be heard but the process of litigating does not leave room for this to happen in constructive and helpful way. Mediation allows both parties to voluntary participate in a process to resolve their dispute rather that one party “taking” the other to court.
I fully understand that my skills and training as a lawyer are very different to those needed in mediation and following my research decided upon Riverdale where I felt I would get the best training that would suit me and my practice.
What did you like about our training?
My experience with Riverdale’s online Family Mediation Training program was detailed and comprehensive. It not only provided me with information and education but a lot of practical opportunities to demonstrate the skills being taught. I learnt a lot from the fabulous coaches who provided valuable and much-needed guidance and feedback. The case studies were very realistic and certainly prepared me for the real-life situations that I am currently encountering in my practical 100-hour training.
I was taught, coached, and guided during my training at Riverdale by different mediators and mentors and was therefore exposed to different methods and ideas which allowed me to capture and learn their different styles of mediating, all with the same ethos and desired outcome of facilitating a structured process that is voluntary, finds common ground, clears up any misunderstanding and is time and cost-effective.
How have you benefited from it?
The most important phrase I took away from my mediation training is “do no harm”. My negotiation skills have certainly been sharpened and I find that in my legal practice and in my personal life I am often looking for alternate ways to solve problems.
What are your plans for your mediation practice?
I am currently undergoing the 100 hours practical aspect of my training and intent to shift the focus of my practice to mainly mediation. I plan to continue my involvement with the Court connected mediation services and increase my private mediation service. I intend to become involved in the Ontario Association of Family Mediators (OAFM).
Share a little bit about yourself:
I am a family lawyer. I am a collaborative lawyer. I am a mediator. I was called to the bar by the Law Society of Ontario in June 2010. I obtained my law degree from the University of Wolverhampton, England in 1993 where I practiced as a Solicitor before emigrating to Canada with my family in September 2008. I have offices in Peterborough and Brooklin, Ontario. I have a passion for assisting families separate with dignity and respect. I have three (3) adult children, a husband, and a Bichon Friese. I enjoy travelling and learning about ancient history. I am the current President of the Peterborough Law Association(2021 – 2023) and a Board member of the Ontario Association of Collaborative Professionals.
