Family Divorce Solutions Members Introduce UCLA Law Students to Collaborative Law

Family Divorce Solutions Members Introduce UCLA Law Students to Collaborative Law

(Left to Right): Kevin Chroman, Steven Garelick, and James Walton, Family Divorce Solutions members

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Dr. James Walton, financial specialist Steven Garelick, and family law attorney Kevin Chroman spoke to UCLA law students in the course “Lawyers as Peacemakers,” taught by attorney Forrest “Woody” Mosten.

In the course, students learn about the basic concepts, values and perspectives of peacemaking within the legal system, including Collaborative Law and preventative legal services, along with current developments in the legal profession and field of conflict resolution. Students learn and practice their lawyering skills involved in these basic concepts, explore alternative models and possible career opportunities for themselves as peacemaking attorneys.

James Walton, Steven Garelick, and Kevin Chroman, all members of Family Divorce Solutions of San Fernando Valley, discussed their individual roles within Collaborative Practice and encouraged the law students to become involved in the Los Angeles Collaborative Family Law Association (LACFLA) to learn more and network with professional members.

“The concept of lawyers working to facilitate peaceful resolutions to difficult issues, particularly the thorny issues involving families such as divorce and child custody, may seem counterintuitive at first to law students,” said Dr. Walton. “Working together with financial and mental health professionals as a team, attorneys can be problem solvers in a more productive way than winning a lengthy and expensive battle in court. When students realize this options exists, many are inspired and energized to see the law as a different kind of tool than they originally imagined.”

Instructor Mosten thanked Dr. Walton, Garelick and Chroman for taking the time to teach and inspire his students at UCLA.