Upcoming Trainings and Events
Professional Development and Training
Lawyers looking to earn nearly a year’s worth of CLE and revive your legal practice at Rooted Practice: A Path to Becoming a Restorative Lawyer. We will assemble a small, purpose-driving group of lawyers for an immersive 3-day retreat designed to radically reimagine the practice of law—from one rooted in conflict to one grounded in healing. Held in the serene, forested beauty of Elk River Inn & Cabins in Slatyfork, West Virginia, this all-inclusive experience will offer over 20 hours of continuing legal education (CLE) while creating space for deep reflection, practical training, and community building. This retreat is for lawyers ready to shift from burnout and adversarial norms toward a restorative approach that centers justice, connection, and well-being. Through workshops, guided discussion, movement, and nature-based integration, you'll leave with both the mindset and tools to lead systemic change—starting with your own practice. The program will also include two short online segments-both before and after the retreat. Costs that include meals and lodging, along with the 20 hours of CLE start at $795.00. Learn more and register here.
West Virginia Family Court Mediation Certification Training. Last fall, we offered the first training in nearly a decade for certification in Family Court mediation in West Virginia. The course will be offered again in a hybrid format. The online portion of the course will begin on August 6, 2026, with weekly meetings through September 24, 2026, from 6:00-9:00 p.m. The in-person segment will be at Blackwater State Park from September 16, 2026, from 6:00-9:00 and September 17 and 18, 2025, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The program will be submitted for continuing legal education credits for attorneys. Register https://bit.ly/4bb1K4z. Registration is limited to twenty participants.
Mediators interested in expanding their private practice in family law matters may benefit from online training offered via Zoom in 2026. This training is not part of any certification program, and we will be seeking continuing legal education credits for these sessions. Registration opens November 1, 2025, and closes on January 8 at 9:00 a.m. Registration is capped at 15 participants. Each course is $75.00 and includes 2 hours of content and written materials. Continuing Legal Education credits for West Virginia are pending. The courses include:
Skills and Techniques for Mediating Property Division in West Virginia. January 8, 2026, 7:00-9:00 p.m. Registration is closed.
Skills and Techniques for Mediating Spousal Support and Child Support in West Virginia: February 12, 2026, 7:00-9:00 p.m. Register here.
Upcoming Events and Conferences
West Virginia State Bar Lunch and Learn Webinar
February 20, 2026, 12:00 PM
I'll be presenting "From Veterans to New Voices: 12 Mediation Lessons Behind the WV Young Lawyers Handbook." When experienced mediators collaborated with newer attorneys to create a mediation handbook, we discovered lessons relevant to everyone—not just newcomers. This program explores twelve core habits, communication techniques, and mindset shifts that lead to better outcomes inside and outside mediation. Register at https://wvbar.orgBook Signing: Becoming a Restorative Lawyer
February 21, 2026, 12:00-4:00 PM
Turn the Page Bookshop, Williamsburg, Virginia
Join me for conversation, questions, and connection as we explore what it means to practice law in a way that heals rather than harms.Pennsylvania Council of Mediators
April 24, 2026 Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
I will be joining the Pennsylvania Council of Mediators for their annual conference as the preconference speaker for a day-long workshop titled, Out of Court: Uncovering the Restorative Power of Mediation. In the workshop, we will examine how mediators unconsciously carry familiar patterns from the legal world into their practice. In this highly interactive and energizing training, I’ll guide participants in uncovering structural patterns that may limit the restorative potential of mediation.
West Virginia Restorative Justice Project Summit
June 26, 2026 Morgantown, West Virginia
We will be assembling restorative justice practitioners from throughout West Virginia for a day-long program sharing how we bring our skills to our everyday work throughout the Mountain State.