Mediation Trainer and educator, Lene Madsen wraps up teaching as Adjunct Faculty at Osgoode Hall Law School this month, after a semester teaching Advanced Family Law to second and third year law school students. This engaging course was focused on family dispute resolution at separation, and introduced students to the family court process and its impact on families, mediation, collaborative law, arbitration, and parenting coordination.
Students experienced Lene’s innovative teaching style, with experiential and problem-based learning components, and were introduced to leaders in the field of dispute resolution. Speakers included Alfred Mamo, Justice Sheilagh O’Connell, Judith Nicoll, Andrea Caskey, and many other excellent dispute resolution practitioners, who each shared generously of their time and expertise.
Through the course, students gained a broad exposure to the impact of dispute resolution options for families, and the importance of tailoring the process to fit the family with whom they are working. Students were also able to meet both the “Praxicum” component of their course requirement, as well as their Upper Year Writing Requirement, through this meaningful course. An opportunity was also made available to watch family court in session, grounding the discussion or alternatives.