Embracing Change: A Lawyer’s Journey into Mediation Training
Introduction
In the ever-evolving landscape of legal practise, many attorneys find themselves at a crossroads, questioning their career paths and seeking new avenues for growth. This article chronicles one lawyer’s transformative experiance as she ventured into mediation training, exploring the challenges and insights gained along the way.
The Legal Landscape: A Personal Reflection
My Journey in Law
Graduating from the University of Washington school of Law in 2007 marked the beginning of my legal career. Back then, Seattle was a different place—affordable rents and fewer tech enthusiasts made life simpler. Over twelve years of practice led me to become a shareholder at my firm, where I focused on client success while navigating billable hours and office temptations.
The Question That Sparked Change
Despite achieving professional milestones, I found myself grappling with an unsettling question: “Is this it?” As an attorney who thrived on challenge and engagement, I feared settling into a monotonous routine devoid of excitement or purpose.
Taking a Leap: Attending Mediation Training
Seeking New Perspectives
to combat this feeling of stagnation, I persuaded my law partners to allow me to take time off for mediation training. My goal was simple yet profound: to explore conflict resolution from a different vantage point.After years as an advocate for clients’ interests, stepping into the role of mediator promised fresh insights that could enhance my advocacy skills.
Day One: Expectations vs. Reality
Armed with enthusiasm (and perhaps too little sleep), I arrived at training only to realize that this would not be your typical continuing legal education course filled with lectures and note-taking. Instead,we were encouraged to engage actively—sharing thoughts and feelings while participating in hands-on exercises.
Understanding facilitative Mediation
What is Facilitative Mediation?
The type of mediation we explored is known as “facilitative” mediation—a process designed to empower disputing parties by guiding them toward self-determined resolutions rather then imposing solutions from outside sources.
The Role Reversal
As lawyers accustomed to directing discussions toward specific outcomes based on our expertise, adapting to facilitative techniques proved challenging. Instead of providing answers or steering negotiations towards what we deemed best for our clients, mediators must ask open-ended questions that encourage parties involved in disputes to articulate their needs and desires.
Challenges Faced During Training
Shifting Mindsets
Transitioning from advocate to mediator required significant mental adjustment; it felt counterintuitive not only because it diverged from traditional legal practices but also because it demanded patience during what often seemed like inefficient problem-solving processes.
Embracing Emotional Complexity
Mediation involves navigating intense emotions—a stark contrast from the analytical approach typically employed by lawyers when resolving conflicts swiftly for efficiency’s sake. However arduous these emotional dynamics may be initially perceived; they are essential components driving meaningful resolutions between parties involved in disputes.
Discovering New Solutions Thru Collaboration
Uncovering Unique Resolutions
One enlightening aspect emerged during mock mediations where participants devised creative solutions beyond anything I’d considered possible as an attorney myself! As a notable example:
- In one scenario involving feuding neighbors over fallen leaves,
- They agreed upon hosting monthly dinners together rather!
This collaborative spirit highlighted how those directly affected frequently enough possess invaluable insights leading them toward mutually beneficial agreements—insights that might elude even seasoned professionals like myself if left unchecked by preconceived notions about “best” outcomes based solely on personal experiences alone!
Focusing on Durable Agreements
What Makes An Agreement Durable?
A key takeaway was understanding what constitutes durable agreements—those voluntarily accepted without external pressure or coercion (like threatening letters). This realization shifted focus away from merely reaching fast resolutions towards ensuring both parties genuinely commit long-term compliance with any agreement reached through facilitated dialog processes instead!
Balancing Efficiency With Care
For someone used primarily working under tight deadlines aiming solely at efficiency within transactional contexts—it felt daunting risking potential delays just so everyone involved could feel fully prepared before finalizing decisions together! Yet ultimately prioritizing durability over speed fosters healthier relationships moving forward post-resolution rather than simply ticking boxes off lists quickly without regard for future implications arising thereafter…
Conclusion: A Transformative Experience
Stepping outside familiar roles can be intimidating but rewarding nonetheless! While taking time away from regular work responsibilities posed challenges—including late nights catching up billing hours—I found immense value engaging deeply within new frameworks surrounding dispute resolution practices throughout this journey overall!
I wholeheartedly recommend fellow attorneys feeling complacent within their current positions consider pursuing similar opportunities—even if they seem unbillable initially—as such experiences may serve springboards launching entirely new career paths altogether while together enriching existing skill sets along way too!
About Me
Allison Peryea is a shareholder attorney at Leahy Fjelstad Peryea—a boutique law firm located downtown Seattle specializing primarily serving community association clients focusing specifically covenant enforcement & dispute resolution matters therein! With extensive background journalism coupled humor writing experience alongside cat ownership adventures—you can reach her via email [email protected].