Playing The Blame Game
It’s no way to go through life. Or mediations. The blame game is really no game at all. It is a life decision or choice we make with real, often damaging, consequences. And in an increasingly-acrimonious social climate, it’s practically become a national pastime. I vividly remember, growing up in a family of three boys, … Read More
You Are Your Clients’ Eyes. Particularly In Mediations.
I love working with lawyers. Our training and gifts equip us to solve problems, advise others in time of need, and help others avoid — or deal with — pain and heartache. It’s a huge responsibility. At our best, we serve as our clients’ eyes, seeing things they can’t — and sometimes won’t — see … Read More
The Role Of Emotions In Mediation
I recently read an article in the Wall Street Journal that reminded me of the effect that emotions and moods can play in mediation. The title alone says a lot: “Good Moods Often Lead to Bad Judgments.” Written by three thought leaders on the topic (including a Princeton professor of psychology who’s also a … Read More
Mediation – The Swiss Army Knife of ADR
(Thinking outside the litigation box) I recently read a Mediate.com post which explored creative uses for mediation. It’s a great reminder for business people and attorneys alike of the many and varied potential uses for mediation. In one of my earlier blog posts, I mentioned that I was once hired by a Fortune 500 company … Read More
Learning From The Challenges Of 2020
Why I’m optimistic. Particularly for the future of mediation. By any standard, 2020 was a challenging year. It’s a year nearly all of us are glad to see in the proverbial rear-view mirror. At the same time, it could be argued that there is a positive aspect to the legacy of 2020 — because, on … Read More
In Mediation, We Can’t Always Get What We Want.
The title to this post was actually inspired not by the song, but by a post recently published by my friend Richard Simmons (and no, if you don’t know him by name, not that one). Richard is a genuinely gifted teacher and writer, and I highly recommend his blog. That said, the title is perfectly … Read More
Conducting Mediations During The Pandemic
A few months ago I wrote a post entitled Mediating Cases Under The New (Ab)Normal. When I wrote it, I really had no idea what the New Normal would be. I’m not sure that I do, even now. What I can say with confidence, several months later, is that mediation can be effective no matter … Read More
Using Mediation Wisely Means Avoiding “The Second Kick Of A Mule”
Growing up in the South, many of us have heard lots of “country sayings,” such as this one attributed to Mark Twain: “There is nothing to be learned from the second kick of a mule.” Nearly everyone who grew-up around horses and mules had to learn the hard way — despite all warnings — what … Read More
Mediating Cases Under The New (Ab)Normal
Hello and sincere best wishes, from my home and family to yours. I doubt any of us could have imagined, even two months ago, that our lives could be so radically affected by something as common to our experience as a flu virus. We are told that its effects will be long lasting, and I … Read More
A senior partner of the law firm of Wallace, Jordan, Ratliff & Brandt, Bill Ratliff has been an adjunct professor of Mediation at the University of Alabama since 2009.
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