This week, October 11 through October 17, is Conflict Resolution Week for the Judicial Branch of the State of North Carolina. Chief Justice Cheri Beasley issued the judicial order to recognize the importance of dispute resolution for the Judicial Branch and for all North Carolinians.
As a Collaborative Law and Mediation attorney who is passionate about conflict resolution, I’m thrilled to see this statewide acknowledgment. I’ve dedicated my career and research to addressing dispute and conflict through resolution and negotiation. I’m a family law attorney and typically work with couples who want to divorce in a healthy manner which is why they choose out-of-court settlement methods like collaborative law or mediation. However, I’ve also worked with clients who choose to use mediation as a way to resolve issues with friends, neighbors, coworkers, or employers. Mediation can also address a wide variety of disputes, including misdemeanor criminal matters, estates, automobile accidents, business, and contract matters. In a recent blog, I wrote about how divorce mediation can work for spouses and how it differs from collaborative law.
The North Carolina General Assembly created mediation and arbitration programs that have successfully operated in North Carolina’s district and superior courts for more than 25 years. While North Carolina has a strong commitment to programs that promote dispute resolution, I’m working to make dispute resolution through mediation and collaboration the first choice for anyone in conflict. According to the North Carolina Judicial Branch, thousands of disputes between individuals, family members, corporations, small businesses, governmental agencies, and others are brought before North Carolina civil and criminal courts each year. Mediation and collaborative law can help reduce the demands on the trial courts and improve efficiency. Many disputes are effectively resolved by the parties themselves with the help of a trained mediator, without the need to involve the police or the court system.
Chief Justice Beasley is an advocate for out-of-court dispute resolution and I’m grateful for her support. In a press release announcing Conflict Resolution Week, she is quoted saying: “North Carolina is fortunate to have such a strong network of talented and dedicated mediators who, for decades, have helped those in the midst of conflict to find solutions that avoid costly litigation, conserve court resources, and foster reconciliation. On behalf of the entire Judicial Branch, we extend our thanks to them as we join the American Bar Association and the Association for Conflict Resolution in celebrating the immeasurable contributions they make to our judicial system.”
As a licensed attorney in North Carolina, I’m a member of the Board of Directors for the Mediation Center of Eastern North Carolina and also hold a Certificate in Dispute Resolution from the Dispute Resolution Institute of North Carolina Central University School of Law. I’ve applied my professional experience and personal research to educate others, as well as companies around the world, of how to efficiently managing the legacy of conflict. My practice of conflict resolution can be applied in the workplace when human resource professionals approach disputes and dissension among employees. Through speaking events and business consultations, I’ve demonstrated step-by-step methods and track data related to conflict for greater result measures for companies nationwide. These tactics will help employees find work life balance and acknowledge awareness. I also explain how out-of-court methods are able to resolve disputes with integrity. In my book, The Cure for Divorce Culture, I detail the historical effect of family disputes on children through generations, resulting in the problematic entitled human mindset of today. Collaborative resolution involves my crafted methods of mindful consideration and perspective outside of the conflict forest. This method is transforming the workplace by uncovering the issues and implementing strategies and collaborative approaches to divorce and conflict resolution.
I am a mediator with an unbiased opinion and outlook. I can provide clarity and support for anyone who finds themselves in conflict. As an expert in mediation and divorce culture I can help you learn more about the benefits out out-of-court settlement. AN|R Law: A Negotiated Resolution has offices in Greenville, Raleigh, and Beaufort to help you resolve conflict in a healthy manner.