I have been a litigator my entire professional life, including prosecuting vigorously for 8 years in a busy rural community. Since entering private practice, have always wanted to help clients to find a better way outside the courtroom, when possible. This goal led me to certifying as a Virginia mediator, and later, as a collaborative practitioner in Central Virginia. I would like to employ the collaborative approach in all areas of practice. The collaborative approach makes sense, generally, as people are more likely to feel they have reached a good result when they are invested in creating that result. I welcome the chance to talk to anyone about the collaborative approach to problem solving.
I have been doing collaborative work since 2008, and have tried to apply the collaborative approach to my daily practice. If we can use these principles with all our clients, I believe we have a better chance of having them see how to reach solutions to their problems with a half-full, rather than half-empty, world view.
Doctor of Jurisprudence, Wake Forest University, 1983
Licensed by the Virginia State Bar, 1984
Admitted to the Virginia Supreme Court, 1984
Admitted to the Western District U.S. District Court, 1985
Admitted to the United States 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, 1997
Admitted to the United States Supreme Court, 1992
Certified Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court mediator, 2000
United States Inspector General Integrity Award, 1991 ,J.D.
PRIOR:
Active in various Bar related activities, locally and state -wide, as well as community boards and functions
Year | Course Title | Instructor | Hours |
---|---|---|---|
Basic/ Introductory Collaborative Law or Interdisciplinary Collaborative Team Training. | |||
2008 | 3-Day Collabortive Training | CDTT | 20 |
30-Hr Interest-Based Negotiation & Mediation Skills | |||
2009 | Mediation for Collaborative Professionals | VaCP/Lynchburg | 30 |
Additional 15 hours Intermediate/ Advanced interest-based negotiation, communication skills, collaborative, or basic professional coach training | |||
2010 | Monthly Practice group meetings | VCPL | 6 |
2009 | Monthly Practice group meetings | VCPL | 6 |
2001 | Mediation continuing education | Peaceful Alternatives | 6 |
Annual 4 hours collaborative continuing education (basic, intermediate, or advanced) | |||
2021 | Uniform Collaborative Law Act: History and Application. | VCPL: Cheryl Smith | 1 |
2021 | How Trauma Impacts the Collaborative Process | VCPL: Susan Muhoro, Lavinia Garbee & Teresa Billingsley | 1 |
2020 | Managing Difficult Conversations: Using Brain, Body, & Mediation Techniques to Make them Less Difficult | Kim Kristensen | 2 |
2020 | COVID 19's Impact on Collaborative Divorce | Paul Legrand. | 1 |
2020 | Becoming a Better Listener | Kim Kristensen | 2 |
2019 | Practice & Procedures: The Do's and Do Not's in the Collaborative Process | Schenkel | 1 |
2019 | Initial Conversations w/Prospective Clients About Collaboration | Morrison, Schenkel & Muhoro | 1 |
2018 | Interfacing Between Mental Health Professionals and Lawyers | Schenkel, Muhoro, Morrison, Marshall, Baker & Garbee | 3 |
2018 | A Lesson In EMDR - Another Tool For Grounding Our Clients | Teresa Billingsley | 1 |
2017 | Using Collaborative Skills in Non Collaborative Cases | Morrison/Schenkel/Marshall | 2 |
2017 | Understanding the Role and Use of Parent Coordinators and Parent Coaches | Muharo/Garbee/Marshall/Billingsley | 1 |
2017 | The Psychology of Money and Its Relevance to Family Law Professionals | Paul Legrand | 1 |
2017 | Mindfulness for Collaborative Professionals | Schenkel/Jones | 1 |
2017 | Creating the Conditions for Growth | Scharff/Herrick | 4 |
2016 | VTLA Conference and Training | VTLA | 4 |
2016 | Understanding The Current Financial Economic Climate To Help Our Collaborative Clients | Paul Legrand | 1 |
2016 | Mindfulness for Collaborative Professionals | Lisa Schenkel | 1 |
2016 | Mediation/Breathwork and Movement For the collaborative Professional | Lee & Jones | 1.5 |
2016 | Everything Coaches Need/Want Lawyers to Know | Garbee/Marshall/Muharo/Billingsley | 1 |
2016 | Difficult Conversations | Lisa Schenkel | 1 |
2016 | Best Collaborative Practice, When Your Client Doesn't Want to Share | Morrison & Garbee | 1 |
2015 | VTLA Conference and Training | VTLA | 4 |
2015 | Monthly Practice group meetings | VCPL | 6 |
2014 | Monthly Practice group meetings | VCPL | 8 |
2013 | VTLA Conference and Training | VTLA | 5 |
2013 | Monthly Practice group meetings | VCPL | 4 |
2012 | Monthly Practice group meetings | VCPL | 6 |
2012 | Continuing training Bedord | VaCP /VCPL | 4 |
2011 | Monthly Practice group meetings | VCPL | 6 |
1993 | Mediation training for professionals | Lynchburg Family Law Group | 40 |