Recent Speaking Gigs at UC Hastings and Boalt: Refreshers on Why I Love My Mediation Practice

Over the last few months, I've had to the honor to speak as a panelist at both the Mediation Clinic at UC Hastings, and at a Mediation class at Boalt, UC Berkeley's law school.  Both panels involved sharing how and why I became a mediator. The students in both settings were engaged, and asked some interesting questions (What can you tell us about mediation that we couldn't just read in a book? What's it like to have to settle a case in forty-five minutes in Small Claims Court? How do you deal with power imbalances  What's it like to mediate a case where the parties are represented?).  The other panelists, a California State Mediator, and a private practitioner who edits a mediation website, added variety and different perspectives that I enjoyed.  Speaking for these students reminds me how passionate I am about my chosen profession, and how lucky I am to be able to help parties come to collaborative solutions. Thanks for having me!