Is Fairly Legal Fairly Relevant?

From Pattie Porter’s Texas Conflict Coach Blog

The USA show “Fairly Legal” is stirring up the mediation field. Whether you think it is a travesty of the professional mediation field, or the best thing that’s happened to mediation since the book Getting to Yes, the fact is this show is pushing our buttons. Let’s take a closer look at how this show is portraying mediators, what’s true, what isn’t, and what we wish were true. This series is NOT a documentary but an entertainment show. We want to take the opportunity to educate the public by pointing out the fiction and highlighting the facts about what mediator’s really do in their practices and how mediation can be a very viable resource to resolving conflict between parties.
My guest co-host, Zena Zumeta will lead a discussion with me Clare Fowler , Rita Callahan and Jeff Thompson.

Rita Callahan is a conflict resolution and collaborative consultant; and Jeff Thompson is a mediator and law enforcement detective from NYC. He is also a PhD candidate at Griffith University Law School based in Australia.
Both Rita and Jeff were our special guests in our Part 1show on Fairly Legal: Mediation Truth of Fiction? In our Part 2 show, Is Fairly Legal Fairly Relevant? we are joined by a new guest Clare Fowler. Clare is the author of the Fairly Legal Blog and Managing Editor at Mediate.com. She received her Master’s of Dispute Resolution from the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at the Pepperdine University School of Law. She also coordinated the career development program for The Straus Institute dispute resolution students. She is currently researching her doctoral dissertation on designing dispute resolution systems that will sustain small businesses. In addition to her editorial duties at Mediate.com, Clare mediates workplace disputes, raises two adorable kids and an equally adorable husband.

                       

Patricia Porter

Patricia "Pattie" Porter, LCSW, ACC, is the Founder and President of Conflict Connections, Inc. in San Antonio, TX. She provides workplace conflict resolution services including conflict management and abrasive behavior coaching, EEO and workplace mediation, change management and team facilitation, and training throughout the U.S. She is the Founder of… MORE >