Reflections on Restorative Justice Week
In the acknowledgements to my new book, Becoming a Restorative Lawyer, How to Transform Your Legal Practice for Self, Client, and Community Growth, I wrote: “Somewhere along the way, some of us become fortunate enough to find ourselves in a community that supports, encourages, and loves us. I am grateful to have fallen in with the right crowd, who made it possible for me to find my way to becoming a restorative lawyer. Thank you to everyone in this community, including my family and friends, who created space for me to explore this practice and find time to write about it.”
When I wrote that, I had no idea of the depth of this community. Besides being Restorative Justice week, last week was launch week for the book. From the kickoff at the West Virginia Restorative Justice Project Community Building Circle events at the Jefferson Senior Center and Shepherd University, to the podcast on Blessed Be, to the thoughtful crowd at the Barns of Rose Hill, to the webinar hosted by the Zehr Institute with three international colleagues, I felt the support, encouragement, and love that helped me finish the book—and more.
During these events, I sensed a shared dream of a future in which legal disputes are resolved through collaboration rather than contention. I appreciated the opportunities to share the stories—good, complex, and complicated—that brought me to this work. I also appreciated all the hugs from clients, colleagues, friends, and family. Two clients I discuss in the book attended the events, and their presence, along with their smiles and support, reminded me of why I do this work. One of the colleagues with whom I first imagined a restorative practice, Marshall Yoder, recalled our very first presentation on this issue at an Association for Conflict Resolution in 2008 in Austin, Texas. Immigration attorney Ozlem Barnard attended and followed up, expressing appreciation for the discussion of the responsibility of lawyers (what we can and cannot control). Theresa Merkel, my mentor when I became a certified mediator for court referrals in Virginia, gave me a big hug and shed tears of joy as we talked about our shared dedication to alternative dispute resolution. The week gave me the opportunity to reconnect with so many friends from my days at the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding at Eastern Mennonite University through the live event, the webinar, and the podcast.
Looking ahead, I am excited to watch the enthusiasm for this new approach to legal services grow. In June, I will join colleague Taylor Graham in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, for the first in-person Restorative Lawyer Retreat. The program will explore the book's themes in a rural setting, tailoring its lessons for individual lawyers while building a community of practitioners interested in restorative principles and values. In late April, I’ll facilitate a full-day workshop for the Pennsylvania Council of Mediators on how mediators may unintentionally rely on legal concepts and processes—and how to create processes that are more grounded in collaboration than in adversarial traditions.
I also have a series of workshops in January and February for those interested in family mediation in West Virginia, which will build on the fall program for new mediators. I expect additional book readings and events in the coming months as well.
My partners in the events have a lot to look forward to as well. The Barns at Rose Hill has a packed calendar with performances and events throughout the holiday season. Blessed Be will be adding new podcasts to its inventory, always centered on identifying the root causes of conflicts and facilitating sustainable solutions for individuals and organizations seeking to transform conflicts into opportunities for positive change. The Zehr Institute has scheduled several webinars in December to address various applications and approaches to restorative justice. The West Virginia Restorative Justice Project will be hosting two upcoming events, including the State-Wide summit in June. And I’ve been invited back to the Jefferson County Senior Center to train a few of their participants in circle keeping.
As we enter a week when many of us take time to reflect on what we are grateful for, I keep returning to the people who helped me bring this book to life. And right now, I am especially grateful to everyone who helped create this remarkable week celebrating Restorative Justice and the launch of my book.
