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Consulting

BLC provides individuals, organizations, and law firms with consulting in three areas: (a) ADR systems design; (b) second opinions on settlement options, particularly in the area of family law; and (c) individualized coaching for lawyers, mediators, and arbitrators.

ADR Systems Design – we design alternative dispute resolution ("ADR") systems for workplaces, organizations, and business relationships. Such systems may involve a combination of negotiation, mediation, and arbitration. ADR systems have been shown to reduce dramatically the costs associated with disputes involving employment-related claims, intra-organization disputes, and disputes involving business partners (such as franchisors and franchisees). BLC affiliate Dina Beach Lynch has consulted with, and designed such systems for major corporations – most recently at Fleet Bank. BLC member David Hoffman has designed dispute resolution systems for processing multiple claims asserted against corporations and non-profits.

Second Opinions – Clients often call us for confidential second opinions about settlement options, particularly in the areas of employment and business negotiations, divorce, and family law. Divorce negotiations, for example, often involve large-scale financial transactions; it is not unusual for such transactions to be among the largest that our clients ever engage in. We encourage our clients to seek second opinions about such settlements, and we are glad to provide such opinions for clients of other attorneys – either on a confidential basis to the attorney or client, or on a non-confidential basis to both of them. Several BLC attorneys have a depth of experience that enables them to provide such opinions.

Individualized Coaching for Lawyers - The legal profession continues to change at a dramatic pace, and lawyers report increasing levels of dissatisfaction with their careers. BLC member David Hoffman has provided mentoring and coaching for many lawyers seeking to transition from traditional careers to greater involvement in dispute resolution. BLC affiliate Richard Wolman and BLC attorney and clinical social worker Vicki Shemin also provide counseling and therapy services. Effective career counseling and coaching must consider:

  • Strengths in legal and non-legal skills and experience
  • Personal and professional values and sources of meaning
  • Current market conditions and employment trends and opportunities
  • Strategies for sustaining economic and personal well-being

Individual coaching is a supportive, practical and concrete process in which the coach and the client work together to identify the client's goals and chart a course towards accomplishing them. Regular meetings and check-ins by telephone or e-mail provide structure and accountability. The coach provides support and encouragement, assists the client in identifying obstacles, and helps the client focus his or her energy on necessary steps for success in accomplishing those identified objectives.

  1. Home
  2. FIRM OVERVIEW
    1. Mission and Values
    2. Firm Policies
      1. Fees
    3. What Clients Are Saying
  3. PEOPLE
    1. Attorneys
      1. Israela Brill-Cass
      2. David A. Hoffman
        1. Publications List
      3. Mary R. Jurgensen LaCivita
      4. Olive E. Larson
      5. Vicki L. Shemin
      6. Craig M. Silverman
    2. Affiliates
      1. Dina Beach Lynch
      2. Susan M. Miller
      3. Richard N. Wolman
    3. Administrative Staff
      1. Nicole L. DiPentima
      2. Sarah Kenney
      3. Lenore Pellani
      4. Test
  4. WHAT WE DO
    1. Dispute Resolution
      1. Mediation
      2. Arbitration
      3. Case Evaluation
      4. Guardian Ad Litem
      5. Parenting Coordinator
      6. Med/Arb
    2. Legal Advice and Representation
      1. Family Law
      2. Employment Law
      3. Business Law
    3. Multidisciplinary Practice
    4. Consulting
    5. Training
  5. CASE STUDIES
    1. Financial Planning in Divorce
    2. Teen's Family Crisis
    3. Collaborative Divorce in the Fast Lane
    4. Restoring Trust to the Beneficiaries
    5. A Truly Collaborative Divorce
    6. Air-Shuttle Family Diplomacy
  6. FOR CLIENTS
  7. SEARCH
  8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
    1. About BLC (Boston Law Collaborative)
    2. About Collaborative Law
    3. About Multidisciplinary Practice
    4. About Mediation and Other Methods of Dispute Resolution
    5. About Arbitration and Other Methods of Dispute Resolution
    6. How to Choose the Best Process to Resolve a Dispute
  9. Resources
    1. Bibliography of Dispute Resolution - Books, Journals and Other Materials
    2. Selected Books, Articles and Videotapes
    3. Useful Information About Dispute Resolution
    4. Quotes - Dispute Resolution
      1. Role of Conflict
      2. Limits of Litigation
      3. Collaboration, Settlement, Resolution
      4. Role of a Neutral - ADR Advocate
      5. Waging Peace
      6. Miscellaneous Thoughts
    5. Forms, Statutes, Rules, and Articles
      1. Alternative Dispute Resolution - Business & Employment
      2. Alternative Dispute Resolution - Family
      3. Collaborative Law Forms
        1. Statutes and Ethics Opionions
      4. Family Law Forms and Resources
      5. Settlement Agreements
    6. List of Useful Links
      1. Academic Sites
      2. ADR Info & Resources
      3. Professional Associations, Non Profit Organizations
      4. ADR-Related Statutes & Guidelines
      5. Government-Related Sites
      6. Legal Resources
      7. Other Legal Sites
      8. Child & Family Social Policy Resources
      9. News/Humor
      10. Financial Planning & Security Research
  10. Contact Us
    1. Directions
  11. What's New
    1. News
      1. News Archive
    2. Calendar
    3. Articles about BLC
    4. Selected Publications
    5. Career Opportunities
  12. Site
    1. Site Map
    2. Terms of Use/Privacy
    3. Credits
  13. Documents

Helping people resolve conflict in family, business, and employment disputes.

Site Map | Terms of Use/Privacy | Credits | Last Updated: 10/19/2006 | © Boston Law Collaborative, LLC