Most FCM matters originate with people who are determined to stay away from the court system as much as possible. We have built our practice on the widespread proposition that the court -room is not the appropriate place to resolve family conflict. FCM provides a main-stream course for people whose practical needs or issues can be steadfastly diverted from the current adversarial family court (adjudication) room.
There are however, a significant number of family matters that have already commenced or currently stalled at the courthouse with people who are interested in correcting their case in cooperative repair. Indeed, since the initial Covid-19 shut-down and gradual reopening of the courts, FCM is ready, willing and able to process your necessary case or settlement conference convening the same type of event although entirely upon a different working strategy. An alternativelaw process which is constructed to empower yourselves as the decision- makers crafting your own partial or a comprehensive settlement, with or without lawyers (although independent legal advice is always recommended as a law model tool).
Our FCM Conference format will work with self-represented individuals as well as with legal counsel. We ensure a balanced treatment in our process which focuses on full participation with procedural attention to timely financial and other disclosure supporting settlement strategies.
Case Management Conciliator
Nigel Macleod serves as a Case Management Conciliator (providing procedural assistance with an adjudication agenda), Mediator (serving as a third-party neutral to both participants) Online Facilitator (using state of the art technology) and Early Neutral Evaluator (ENE based on decades of specialized family law and dispute resolution experience); all of which combine to promote partial or comprehensive settlement as a Case / Settlement Conference Schedule A (Conference Stipulations) – for Rule 14B Motion Endorsement.
Preliminary Staging Consultation & Virtual Hearing
FCM provides a step-by-step practical procedure to assist in case management and issue resolution involving an integrated step of preliminary staging consultation and culminating in the virtual hearing (less than two-hour event with breakout rooms and conveniently scheduled in regular and other available business hours (ie. Monday – Wednesday evenings and Saturday am/pm)
Case Management Coach
FCM provides a case management coach (Client Service Representative (info @ firstcirclemediation.ca) to help the parties and lawyers engage the multi-professional system dynamics to optimize success potential from start to finish. In addition to the preliminary conference dialogue designed to construct a better discussion agenda at the hearing, this focused attention to structure and support truly means that there is a better way to progress through the Family Court system.
The expense disbursement is readily calculated and conveniently managed with block expense packages. Contact Nigel (nm @ alternativelaw.ca) for more information and initial referrals.
