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Mediation generally works the best when all parties are willing.  The voluntary nature of mediation is one of the process's hallmarks.  However, sometimes parties end up in mediation, because a judge told them to go.  When volunteer mediating in the Cook County Courts I have seen participants still put real effort into the process and walk away with a self-determined agreement.  Those cases are the most fun to mediate.  It definitely brightens a mediator's day to see two people who were previ...

Veterans' Day was originally called Armistice Day and commemorated the World War I cease fire agreement signed between Germany and the Allies in 1918.

As the daughter of a retired Lieutenant Colonel of the United States Army, I grew up with an appreciation for the military.  This year for Veterans' Day I want to make conflict resolution accessible for the men and women who have served in the past or are currently serving.  Military service requires many sacrifices and presents unique logistica...

While watching Monday night's battle of the backup quarterbacks, I started thinking about the story of Richie Incognito, Jonathan Martin, and the Miami Dolphins and the potential for some very powerful mediations.  The information coming out paints a picture of a very ugly situation with lousy ramifications for all parties involved.    

The Miami Dolphins are concerned at a minimum about damage to the franchise, team unity, and potential liability for a hostile work environment.  The judgment ...

Earlier this week I had the chance to participate in a simulation of a landlord-tenant dispute involving a broken washer in the tenant's unit.  In the simulation the landlord was out of town, and the tenant needed the problem fixed asap.  The whole simulation was conducted online by the Virtual Mediation Lab:  http://www.virtualmediationlab.com/vml-mobile-mediation/example-of-online-mediation-tenant-v-landlord-dispute-acr-chicago-and-virtual-mediation-lab-16-min-video/

I have mixed feeling abo...

Lately I have been encountering a number of landlord-tenant cases while mediating at the Circuit Court of Cook County.  Mediation can be particularly useful in situations where the people involved have an ongoing relationship.  If a tenant wants to stay at their apartment, he or she will have to continue to deal with the landlord.  The same is true when a landlord wants to keep a tenant.  If the parties want to avoid litigation, mediation might be the answer.  Mediation can also be used in si...

If you live near Chicago and want to learn more about alternative dispute resolution, check out A Celebration of Conflict Resolution tomorrow night from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Much Shelist, 191 N. Wacker Dr., Suite 1800, Chicago, IL (sponsored by the Association for Conflict Resolution - Chicago Chapter).  

I am marking Conflict Resolution Day by volunteer mediating in the Circuit Court of Cook County tomorrow and then heading to the Celebration in the evening.

Jennifer LaDuke will be at ACR-Chicago's Conflict Resolution Day on October 17, 2013.

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