Law Commons^™

'Judicial' Decision-Making In Australia: Critique And Redemption, John Wade

John Wade

Extract: In Australia, as in most countries, the landscape of judges is vast. Judicial activity can be categorised in many ways. For example, first there is a tiny minority of judges with ’lifelong’ appointments (ie, to the age of 70 or 72 years); who are appointed by the government in power; who work in offices which look like traditional ’courtrooms’; and whose decision-making processes are usually publicised by observers and the publication of decisions and reasoning; and who, importantly, are constitutionally protected from political interference.

Re-Inventing The Pyramid: A Process For Teaching And Learning In Mediation Courses, John Wade

John Wade

This article describes an orthodox teaching and learning process known as the pyramid. It sets out how this basic process can be used in mediation (and other) training courses. The variations, advantages, and disadvantages of this learning procedure are described. Analogies are drawn between the pyramid method and mediation. Finally, mediators are challenged to add this process and its variations to their repertoires both as trainers and as mediators.

Forever Bargaining In The Shadow Of The Law - Who Sells Solid Shadows? (Who Advises What, How And When?), John Wade

John Wade

Extract: Mediators, lawyers and other skilled helpers normally exhort disputants to obtain “independent legal advice” before or after entering into negotiations. This article attempts to demystify and catalogue the concept of “legal advice” particularly in family disputes. Such a catalogue of in-formation and advice quickly raises a series of questions: • How much of this information and advice is actually made available at present? • How much information is necessary or helpful? • In what manner, form and language should such advice be given? • By whom should such advice be given? • How much of this information is within …

"Judicial" Decision-Making In Australia – Critique And Redemption, John Wade

John Wade

Extract:

This paper has four parts, namely a description of:

A. The Context ▪ Australia (the place) ▪ The vast landscape of “judicial” or quasi-judicial decision makers

B. The Commentary ▪ Repetitive critiques of judicial decision-making ▪ Redemption of judicial decision making

Plus an Appendix on Court Structures with details and diagrams.

Duelling Experts In Mediation And Negotiation: How To Respond When Eager Expensive Entrenched Expert Egos Escalate Enmity, John Wade

John Wade

Having dueling experts is a predictable problem for negotiators and mediators. A routine process in response is set out: normalizing, reframing, and turning the barrier into a standard problem-solving question. Twelve standard responses (each with inevitable advantages and disadvantages) are systematized for mediators and negotiators to learn and possibly add value to any negotiation.

Lawyers And Mediators: What Each Needs To Learn From And About The Other, John Wade

John Wade

The mediation movement has been given publicity, funds of taxpayers, and support by propagating simplistic notions of the “adversary” system and of what lawyers do on a daily basis. Conversely, lawyers have often attempted to neutralise this rival profession by (as major doorkeepers to serious family disputes) wilful ignorance of their own behaviour, ignorant criticism of mediator behaviour, anecdotal warfare and attempts to co-opt mediation under their own monopolistic umbrella.

This paper reflects upon the behaviour of both family lawyers and family mediators with the aim of assisting each group understand the other. Both groups have much to learn from …