PL2 – Afternoon Keynote – Robin Hassler Thompson (2.1 CME Credits Domestic Violence)

It is a given that you will mediate cases where domestic violence is present. Prevalence statistics show the inescapable truths that over their lifetimes, more than 1 in 3 women and 1 in 7 men have experienced physical violence by an intimate partner. Additionally, over 21 percent of men and over 35 percent of women living with a same-sex partner have experienced violence at the hands of an intimate partner. Transgendered persons are at even greater risk.

Whether you are a family mediator where you might expect to see these cases, mediate in small claims court, or handle purely financial matters, you will encounter domestic violence. 

Sometimes, mediation can be the most cost effective and safest path for a victim of abuse. Other times, it can pose real danger to the abused person and to others. How do you deal with this inherent power imbalance and decide what to do? 

In this session, we will explore practical issues such as how to detect whether domestic violence is present, whether or not to mediate, and safe and effective mediation strategies. We will also discuss trauma and how it impacts these cases as well as how economic security is inextricably linked to victim safety and fair mediation outcomes.

PowerPoint   Handout 1   Handout 2   Handout 3   Handout 4