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D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center Family Court Volunteer Attorney Negotiator Training

Topics:
  • Family Law/Matrimonial
  • Training (non-CLE)

The District of Columbia Superior Court Family Court has Attorney Negotiators available to assist litigants with reaching an amicable solution to the problems they have presented to the Court.  The overarching goal of working with the Attorney Negotiator is to facilitate conversations that empower litigants to resolve their own issues.   If the parties are able to come to an agreement on all the issues before the Court, a Court Order will be issued and the case may be closed.  As the Attorney Negotiators provide support to the judicial officers assigned to the DR II calendar, the types of matters addressed include custody, divorce, visitation, child support, legal separation, property distribution, alimony, and annulments.
Stable families are the bedrock of society.  The Family Court Volunteer Attorney Negotiators Program (VAN) is an opportunity for compassionate attorneys with family law experience and good active listening skills to enhance familial stability by facilitating communication and using negotiation skills to resolve issues.  It is a very meaningful way of giving back to the community in which we work and/or live.
Topics to be covered include:
• Family Law Primer
• Process Overview
• Neutrality
• Review of Orders
• What to do when there is no resolution
• Perspectives from the Bench
• Next Steps
Family law and mediation experience is required.