The Liberty University School of Law, Ehrhorn Law Library, invites applications for a non- tenure-track full-time administrative faculty library position serving as a Reference Librarian (Position #: 9002642). The mission of the Law Library is to support the Law School…
Posts Tagged ‘University’
Susan Nevelow Mart Appointed Director of Univ. of Colorado’s Wise Law Library
09
Jun
From the press release: Susan Nevelow Mart has been named director of the William A. Wise Law Library at the University of Colorado Law School. Mart will begin her new role on July 15, 2011. Mart comes to Colorado Law…
Opening: Associate Dean for Information Services, Wake Forest Univ. School of Law
09
Jun
The Position. Wake Forest University School of Law invites applications for the position of Associate Dean for Information Services. The Associate Dean oversees library and information technology services to ensure that they fully support the academic, research, and technological needs…
Opening: Research Librarian, Univ. of Maryland School of Law, Thurgood Marshall Law Library
07
Jun
The University of Maryland School of Law, Thurgood Marshall Law Library seeks a highly motivated, creative, professional to serve as a Research Librarian. The position is within the library’s Research Services Department and reports to the Associate Director for Research…
Opening: Electronic Services Librarian, Washington & Lee Univ. School of Law Library
03
Jun
Position Summary: The Washington and Lee University School of Law Library seeks applications to fill the position of Electronic Services Librarian. This position is responsible for database management, the general web presence of the law library and reference. The Electronic…
Opening: Associate Director, Instructional and Faculty Services Librarian, Washington & Lee Univ. School of Law Library
01
Jun
Position Summary: The Washington and Lee University School of Law Library seeks applications to fill the position of Associate Director, instructional and Faculty Services Librarian. This is a permanent full time position reporting to the Director of the Law Library….
Do you have any tips for how I can best manage my family law case?
17
Mar
Managing your family law case will be one of the most challenging things you ever do. Organizational skills will come in handy in your role as project manager, but it’s equally important for you to maintain perspective and keep focused on your goal of a positive outcome. You can do this.
Where do I begin?
Your first objective is to define the scope of your project, so you have an overall picture of what you will be required to do as you navigate your case. Block out some time when you won’t be disturbed, grab a pen and some paper, and start by familiarizing yourself with the five stages a family law case typically goes through: (1) filing the initial petition and response; (2) the temporary order process; (3) discovery; (4) the settlement conference; (5) the trial if settlement fails. You can find a breakdown of this process in my post, As A Pro Se Party, You are the Project Manager of Your Family Law Case.
I recommend going through each stage, one at a time, to create action items. Be sure to consider the forms and documents you’ll need to gather, deadlines for filing paperwork, information to compile in support of your case, appointments to make and meetings to attend. Make sure you read more about finding the best family law attorney, that is quite important. At the end of this process, you should have a detailed task checklist for each stage of your case, as well as a project timeline. If you need help with this, Pro Se University offers $5 Roadmaps (several are free) to help you with your family law issue.
Label file folders for each stage of your family law issue, so you’ll have a place to house your checklists and other documents you are likely to collect. Also, buy a large calendar to prominently mark important dates and deadlines.
How can I keep from being overwhelmed by my family law project?
Concentrate on one stage at a time. Simply developing your action plan is a large undertaking, but once it’s in place, executing your to-do lists will seem less daunting. Here are some things you can do to make the work more manageable:
- Create an environment that is conducive to concentrating. This means eliminating distractions and physical clutter. Turn off your phone and television, ignore your doorbell. Your work area should only contain the tools you need in order to work on your case and nothing more. It can be comfortable and accommodating, but cannot be used for anything other than your casework.
- Set aside enough time to get through a few items from your checklist. Don’t try to tackle everything at once, but mix easier tasks with more complicated ones. The energy and ego boost you’ll feel from accomplishing the smaller items will help you power on. People generally underestimate how long it will take to do something, so I recommend doubling your estimate. If you think it will take you half an hour to fill out a form, give yourself an hour. It is better to have extra time on your hands than to miss a deadline.
- If you are stretched thin and your calendar is already full, consider saying no to some of your personal obligations. Effective project managers know how to prioritize. You may need to make some tough decisions if you want to stay focused and on task.
- Be as prepared as you can. If you are working on a computer, constantly back up your files. You don’t want any of your hard work erased. It’s also a good idea to keep a notebook at hand so that you can write down any ideas or questions that come up. Written reminders are important because you will be keeping track of many details, and you don’t want to rely on memory alone. They can also help you quickly pick up where you left off if you are interrupted.
- Above all, take care of yourself during this process. Eat and sleep well, take breaks and cut yourself some slack. It’s perfectly reasonable if other areas of your life fade to the background for a while. Your number one priority is to get through your case and achieve a favorable outcome. Keeping this in mind at all times will be invaluable.
Pro Se University offers affordable legal help for individuals living in King County who are not able to afford an attorney. If you need guidance along the way, contact us or attend a free 30-minute appointment. We will help you get on track and through your family law issue.
Photo by Andy Ciordia
What if my former spouse and I cannot decide on a parenting plan?
03
Feb
An important step in the divorce process is agreeing what to do with your children. This includes decisions about child custody, parenting time, child support, and who holds what responsibilities over the child or children in your life. In the past, there was one custodial parent and the other parent would receive visitation rights only. This is no longer the only option. Nowadays, one parent’s home may be where the children spend most of their time, but there is a clear trend toward more equal-time arrangements. Also, it is very common for parents to have equal decision-making authority regarding such matters as education, non-emergency health care, and religious training.
When the decisions about the parenting plan are complicated or when both parties are unable to reach a resolution, the court may intervene and require a parenting plan evaluation.
In a parenting plan evaluation, a specially-trained and licensed expert evaluates each parent and child to assist the court to make a decision. These experts often have advanced degrees and training regarding child development. The evaluator is an impartial party who is focused on one thing, and that is “the best interests of the children” involved.
What is the goal of a parenting evaluation?
It is key that the expert performing the evaluation be trained in how to remain impartial and keep the well being of the child a priority. Luckily, in Western Washington there is a special certificate program that trains health and law professionals in these skills. It is called the Parenting Evaluation Training Program (PETP) at the University of Washington. Graduates of this program have been specially trained to work effectively as evaluators and treatment personnel to protect the interests of children and help resolve high-conflict family law litigation.
A PETP graduate also may offer “Co-Parent Psychotherapy,” which is a form of counseling with the following goals:
- Reduce parental conflict and enhance cooperation
- Quickly resolve disputes between parents about the children
- Assist child’s (children’s) coping with their parents’ conflict
- Reduce post-divorce litigation
- Enhance parenting skills
At its core, the parenting evaluation and co-parent psychotherapy can help you learn how to parent your child together with your former spouse and lead a more peaceful life after divorce. It is not a single-parent parenting class, but an opportunity for both parents to learn how to focus on the well being of their child.
You can find details on what to expect during the University of Washington Co-Parent Psychotherapy process here.
Where can I find a qualified parenting evaluation professional to help me with this issue?
If you need a parenting evaluation or want to start Co-Parenting Psychotherapy, the list of PETP Graduates is a great resource.
If you have any questions about how a parenting evaluation can help move your family law issue forward, we can help. You can sign up for a free 30-minute Attorney Appointment on the web. We schedule these appointments on one Tuesday each month. You can also contact our office and speak to Xenia at 877-776-7310 to schedule a free consultation.
We look forward to working with you.
Source: Guidelines for Child Custody Evaluations in Family Law Proceedings (http://www.apa.org/practice/guidelines/child-custody.pdf ) by American Psychological Association
Related: Co-Parent Psychotherapy (http://depts.washington.edu/petp/coparent.html )
