Developments and Challenges in Family Mediation:
Ethics, Standards of Practice and Professionalism
Spend the lunchtime hour with us as we explore the ethical, professional and legal boundaries of the role of the mediator. What is legal information v. legal advice? When does a mediator slip into the role of advocate? Is your client “the couple” or “the individual,” and when does that distinction matter? And what is happening in the other states? Join us to learn what’s happening around the country and to discuss the nuances in the complex role of the attorney-mediator presented by Rebecca Billick, J.D., M.S.Ed., Jerry Kessler, J.D., and the Hon. Regina Scannicchio.
ABOUT THE PRESENTERS Rebecca Billick, JD, MSEd has devoted her career to understanding the interplay between the legal, educational, criminal, and mental health communities with a particular emphasis on how such interplay impacts children and families. Over the years she has developed multi-agency initiatives, designed and provided trainings in conflict resolution and domestic violence, developed efficacy studies for child-focused programming, and has written published briefs on a variety of topics related to children and the law. Her practice focuses on serving as a mediator, parenting coordinator, and guardian ad litem, and she accepts a variety of family law cases.
Jerry Kessler, JD has mediated over 2,000 disputes over the last 25 years and attended numerous advanced mediation trainings, completed an internship and hundreds of hours of workshops on mediation. His skills have been augmented by by completing course work at the Chicago Center for Family Health on couples counseling and family systems, and he regularly attends multidisciplinary conferences involving families, child development and mental health. Jerry is well-versed in the literature and research on divorce and conflict resolution and based on his experience and training, he is often sought to mediate other types of disputes.
The Hon. Regina Scannicchio is a Cook County Circuit Court Judge in the Domestic Relations Division presiding over cases involving dissolution of marriages, child custody and support, financial distribution and orders of protection.
Continuing Education
IL Attorneys: This program has been approved by 1.50 hours of general credit by the Minimum Continuing Legal Education Board of the Supreme Court of Illinois.
IL Licensed Mental Health Providers: Application has been submitted to co-sponsor, Margaret S. Powers and Associates, and has been approved for 1.50 hours of CEUs or all Licensed Mental Health Providers.
Thank you to our lunch sponsor 
