Three Legally Assisted Models of Mediation

Date TBA | Legal Aid NSW

Wednesday, 24 October 2018

Learn how to navigate the challenges of working within a legally assisted model of mediation. The panel of three speakers who are all highly experienced Family Dispute Practitioners will work you through their respective models of Legally Assisted Mediation for: the Legal Aid NSW model; the Settlement Services Model; and a Family Relationship Model. The speakers will specifically address the nature of the involvement and degree of participation of lawyers in their respective processes. The speakers will also specifically address the ‘pros’ and ‘cons’ of their models from the practical perspective of a FDRP. The panel discussion is designed to compare and contrast different models of legally assisted mediation to prepare FDRPs who have not experienced these models through a very practical approach.

About the presenters

Sally Lord

Sally Lord has been the Senior Family Law Mediator for Legal Aid NSW since 2009. Sally holds a BA, Dip Ed, MA (Hons) and MDR. In her current position Sally provides clinical supervision to the FDRP panel and facilitates their professional development.She also conducts FDR mediations, Contact Mediations (C&P), matters referred from various Courts and Hague mediations.

Yvonne DeBorde

Yvonne DeBorde is an FDRP and Family Group Conferencing Facilitator. Since 2012 Yvonne has worked as Co-ordinator of Culturally and Legally Assisted FDR at Bankstown FRC. She is also an FDRP on the Legal Aid NSW early intervention panel and coaches College of Law mediation students. Yvonne has worked extensively with families attending Legally Assisted mediations.

Helen Miedzinski

Helen Miedzinski is the Principal Solicitor and Mediator at H.A. Miedzinski Lawyers. She is an accredited FDRP and NMAS Mediator. Helen has been involved in the Dispute Resolution Faculty for over ten years having a real passion to educate and promote ADR. She has conducted innumerable mediations as well as legally assisted mediations. She serves on several panels as a mediator including the Law Society Family Law Property Settlement Services, NSW Rural Assistance Authority Farm Debt Mediation, Office of the Franchising Mediation Adviser. Helen works at the College of Law as a coach in the ADR and FDRP programs. Helen volunteers her time as an adjudicator in mediation competitions in Australia and overseas.

Eloise Riches

Eloise Riches BEc LLB, University of Sydney admitted to practice in 1986. She commenced family Law Practice in 1987 and exclusively since 1989 at Coleman and Grieg and then Watts McCray Parramatta.In 1993 secondment to Family Court as Deputy Registrar ( conciliation conferences) , and became an accredited specialist in Family Law in the inaugural year. From 1993 mediated in Legal Aid conferencing scheme . Independent Children’s Lawyer since 1996.2006 commenced with Legal aid in Family Litigation primarily as Independent Children’s lawyer and then as Manager of FDR Service. Eloise is an accredited FDRP and Arbitrator.