Tell me about your practice?
As of 1995, I have not filed an appearance in contested court matters. That said, recognizing that some cases must go to court, I try to work on a parallel track to settle as much of the case out of court as possible. Many family law attorneys, as a matter of course, automatically file “1B” contested divorce cases. Out of the gate, that establishes a win-lose, me vs. you, dynamic that can be counterproductive, particularly when children are involved and a co-parenting relationship must be preserved or strengthened. A substantial part of my practice is devoted to family law mediation and parenting coordination (“PC”). As to PC work, for those co-parents who commence becoming clients after their divorce matter has concluded, their counsel is often battle weary; the last thing their counsel want to do is deal with the minutiae of child-related issues (and judges may well have run out of patience for all the judicial resources being expended post-decree on such matters). This is where the role of the PC can be invaluable.
What skills and qualities do you think are essential for a successful divorce lawyer, mediator, and Parenting Coordinator?
I believe there should be a differentiation between the essential skills and qualities a divorce lawyer brings to the table versus what a mediator and Parenting Coordinator should embody. Divorce lawyers should not offer a cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all, “make the foot fit the shoe” approach but instead should, from the outset, offer a client a panoply of options best suited to their matter. When it comes to mediation, whereas a divorce lawyer may be more proactive in counseling and advising the client, mediators must keep in mind that, ultimately, it is for the clients to come to a mutually agreeable decision, perhaps with the facilitated guidance of the mediator. And, as to a PC, in the first analysis, the PC is there to facilitate communication and help the parents in trying to reach consensus, but, if not, the PC may be asked to issue a directive (if the parents/court have granted decision-making authority to the PC). A big part of what I hope to achieve with my PC clients is to literally show them how better to communicate with their co-parent.
Read the full interview here:
https://medium.com/@kyliesands/an-interview-with-family-law-attorney-mediator-parenting-coordinator-collaborative-law-attorney-f63e24e6e30d
Vicki L. Shemin, J.D., LICSW, ACSW, a divorce lawyer and clinical social worker, is a partner at Fields and Dennis LLP in Wellesley. She has been recognized nationally and in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for her expertise and dedication to family law matters and dedication to clients. To learn more about her, please follow this link: https://www.fieldsdennis.com/attorneys/shemin She can be reached at 781.489.6776 or VShemin@FieldsDennis.com.
