Page 111 - USA BOOK FINAL PDF---08-09-2020web-1_Neat-final

had discovered my calling. My primary interest in going into the field of law was to bring
about positive change and to help those in need. I found in ADR the opportunity to listen
and understand the objectives of clients, to custom design fair and informal processes
that offer procedural justice, and to partner with parties in reaching solutions that meet
their needs and interests. I love the simplicity and self-determination that ADR processes
like mediation offer and the dignity with which sensitive matters can be addressed. The
personal satisfaction I achieve every day as a mediator, facilitator, trainer, and conflict
resolution specialistis knowing that that I have helped reduce clients’ stress and anxieties
by assisting in addressing their concerns in a constructive manner. My reward is seeing
the clients I serve happier and more hopeful about the future, and individuals and teams
transformed.

Over the past twenty-five years I have mediated hundreds of general civil, family,
truancy, child dependency, and employment disputes and have provided conflict
resolution training to several state, federal, and internationalorganizations. I served
as Director of the Department of Dispute Resolution Services at the Supreme Court
of Virginia managing court-connected ADR services and I have taught Mediation as an
Adjunct Professor at Richmond School of Law and the College of William and Mary Law
School. I provided mediation services to the World Bank Group and served as the first
Mediator for the International Monetary Fund.

I assisted in the development of court-connected mediation programs in India and
was the first Indian to serve as Chair of the American Bar Association Dispute Resolution
Section. I have assisted many divorcing and separating Indian families over the years.
Reflecting on the religious and cultural reasons that keep Indians in unhealthy marriages
and the typical sources of discord such as meddling in-laws, dowry and financial troubles,
the imposition of inequitable patriarchal expectations, and poor communication, I
wrote a book entitled, Shaadi Remix – Transforming the Traditional Indian Marriage.
My goal in this book is to provide some insight into how Hindu marriage traditions can
be adapted for the younger generation. Further, I have shared questions that can help
couples assess compatibility andhave outlined dispute resolution options like mediation
as an alternative to litigation.

To enter the field of alternative dispute resolution, a law degree or master’s degree in
conflict resolution and some specialized area of expertise is helpful. Clients generally prefer
working with attorneys who have significant legal experience or retired judges who bring
skills such as: case analysis, understanding of the impediments to settlement, emotional
intelligence, patience, persistence and positivity in encouraging a constructive approach
in the discussions, insight into underlying interests, effective process management with
input from counsel, and strong subject matter expertise. Having said this, you do not
have to be a lawyer to be a mediator. Most states have a formal certification process to
serve on a roster as a court-referred mediator. This includes a 40-hour training following
by a mentorship process. Community Mediation Centers are an excellent place to get
Basic Mediation Skills training and experience to determine if this is an area of interest.

44 107