When one Googles “Convenience of Litigation,” several sites that reference a “convenience store in litigation” are presented- that isn’t exactly what I am searching for. However, when one Googles “Convenience of Mediation” or “Convenience of Collaborative Law,” many sites appear that do indeed explain how mediation or Collaborative Law can be considered convenient for a client. Why is this? Simply put, litigation, with its delays and often inconvenient scheduling, is not typically viewed as convenient. Mediation and Collaborative Law are positioned to provide clients the result they seek through a far more convenient process.
A few months ago I met a couple that came to my office for a free process presentation on a Thursday. They decided to mediate their divorce with my office, and I was able to accommodate them the following Monday evening. On Tuesday I drafted documents and met with them Tuesday afternoon to finalize and notarize. The agreement was presented to and approved by a judge at the couple’s 1A hearing that Wednesday.. While this story and its timetable is not typical, it clearly demonstrates the potential convenience aspect of Mediation.
Last year, I mediated a case for a couple that lasted ten months. While this appears to be in stark contrast to the expediency of the other case, the longer mediation time was the choice for this couple. Once we initially met and went over the parameters of the mediation, they decided that they would wait to iron out details until their house was sold. During that time we had a few meetings to cover additional matters, and once the house was sold the final agreement was crafted. Their mediation was convenient for them because its timing met their needs and timetable.
In the last couple of weeks, I have completed two different mediations where one of the parties was out of state for the mediation sessions. While I prefer to mediate in person, sometimes the logistic and financial realities require more creative solutions. Conference calls, video conferencing and secure document sharing can assist in providing a convenient mediation format.
I’ve finished up a Collaborative Law case where one of the parties had a fair level of anxiety over the scheduling of the meetings and the potential impact on their profession. The team addressed this early on and was able to devise a schedule that removed that anxiety from the equation.
Going through a divorce is a stressful situation in and of itself. Convenience of the process would certainly lend itself to being less stressful. Choosing mediation or Collaborative Law as a resolution process is a way to minimize that stress. If you would like to learn more about the benefits of mediation and Collaborative Law, contact my office today.
Located in Norwood, MA, The Law Office of Martin Murphy, LLC assists clients from the surrounding areas including Attleboro, Canton, Foxboro, Franklin, Mansfield, Medfield, Medway, Millis, Norfolk, North Attleboro, Plainville, Sharon, Walpole, Westwood, and Wrentham. Contact the office today to determine how the principles and benefits of mediation and Collaborative Law may be helpful for you.
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