Megan Hunter

This training will focus on learning and practicing conflict management skills, through lecture, group discussion, video and practice exercises. Lawyers will gain skills and confidence which will assist them in handling any high-conflict situation, whether in litigation, negotiation, formal mediation or other work with potentially high-conflict clients.

High-conflict disputes are increasing in all aspects of society, especially in separation and divorce. They often involve one or more parents, family members, friends and/or professionals with high-conflict behavior, characterized by: all-or-nothing thinking; unmanaged emotions; extreme behavior; preoccupation with blaming others; prolonged, unresolved conflict; drawing in many other people. These disputes can be toxic, draining, and utilize precious resources and time.

Yet these disputes can generally be managed by understanding high conflict behavior and using skills to manage the dispute that are often different from ordinary conflict resolution methods. There are simple skills you can teach potentially high-conflict clients to help guide them through litigation, negotiation and formal mediation. These skills will help you guide them into reaching a settlement and creating lasting agreements, and you will learn new skills to help you manage their frequent outbursts, unrealistic expectations, desire to win at all costs, and to recognize and mitigate potentially damaging behaviors and actions before they occur.