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Arden E. Page practices mediation and arbitration in the Anchorage area. For over three decades Arden Page worked for a prominent Alaskan law firm, starting his personal practice a decade ago. He has mediated or acted as an arbitrator for over 400 clients. Arden E. Page is also a part of the Alaska Bar Association, the Federalist Society, and the Maritime Law Association.
Drew H. Peterson Law Firm has been serving the Anchorage community for over three decades. He practices in family law, and family and general mediation. The firm can take on uncontested and simple divorces, divorce and family mediation, and can help clients represent themselves. In addition to his personal mediation services, Drew H. Peterson is the owner of and trainer at Wingspan Training and Consulting where he offers workshops on collaborative problem-solving.
Law Offices/Mediation Services of Joan Clover does family law legal consultations, family law mediation, and premarital agreements. Clover has been practicing for over two decades and claims to act like an "attorney-coach," offering consultations to help clients with their negotiations. Joan Clover is also a mediator for the Alaska Court System's Child Custody and Visitation Mediation Program.
| Attorney Names | Bar Status | Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Joan Clover - Principal | Active | 41 yrs |
The Law Office of Glenn E. Cravez, Inc. serves individuals and small businesses in the state of Alaska. The law office practices mediation in the areas of family, business, and employment disputes. Legal assistance is also available in the areas of informal probate, small business assistance, and customer assistance. Lawyer Glenn E. Cravez has over two decades of experience in mediation and has nearly four decades of experience in law. Cravez is also an adjunct professor of mediation at University of Alaska Anchorage,
| Attorney Names | Bar Status | Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Glenn Cravez - Principal | Active | 42 yrs |
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Mediation is an alternative to going to trial during legal disputes. The parties on both sides agree to work with an impartial third party who oversees discussions concerning the matter in dispute. The goal and hope of mediation is to come to a settlement or compromise that is agreeable to both parties. The mediator doesn't represent either party but works with both to help ensure that discussions are civil and agreements are as fair as possible given the situation. In many cases, if mediation fails, then the parties can move on to a trial in court.
Arbitration is another alternative to a court trial, but it's a bit more formal than mediation. During the arbitration, evidence and testimony is presented to a panel of people who act as judges of sorts. They issue an opinion about the matter in writing, and depending on how the arbitration was entered into, it may or may not be binding. If it's binding, the parties must accept and abide by the decisions of the arbitrators. Commonly, each side selects a third-party arbitrator, and each of those people selects a third person.
Arbitration and mediation both have pros and cons, and which one is right for you depends on your personal preferences, legal goals, and the details of your case. Mediation can offer more control, and because of that, those who go through it tend to report a higher level of satisfaction. But arbitration is more formal and may provide a more structured environment, which may be needed if civil discussions aren't possible.
If you can choose a mediator or arbitrator, it's critical to look for a neutral third party. Someone who is in any way tied to either side or who might have a known strong opinion on matters related to the case may not be the best option. Legal knowledge is important for mediators and arbitrators, but arbitrators should also have court experience. Retired or former judges or trial lawyers may be good choices for arbitrators, for example.
An arbitration agreement waives your right to seek legal remedies in court under certain circumstances, specifically, if you and the other party have unresolved disputes. You submit to binding arbitration over all matters, which can be somewhat risky as arbitration agreements are usually requested by companies that have arbitration processes set up, and those processes may not be impartial.
Mandatory arbitration occurs when someone is forced to use arbitration as a means of settling an issue. One of the most common scenarios for this is employment. Employers may require that employees sign an arbitration agreement before they can begin work. The employees then give up some rights to go to court over certain employment issues.
During a child custody mediation, the mediator will likely encourage each party to focus on the needs of the child or children. The parties work together to agree on custody. They typically won't discuss matters of child support, marital property, or other factors of the divorce—unless the mediation is for the whole divorce. If you are attending mediation, it is advised to come prepared to discuss what's in the best interest of your children and situation, but also be prepared to reach a compromise.
