Upcoming Events

RESTORATIVE LAWYERING and RESTORATIVE JUSTICE EVENTS

  • Restorative Lawyering. In anticipation of the publication of Brenda’s book, Becoming a Restorative Lawyer: How to Transform Your Legal Practice for Self, Client, and Community Growth, several events have been scheduled. The book launch will be during Restorative Justice Week and will include several events!

    • On November 19, 2025, Brenda and Howard Zehr will be hosted by the Barns at Rose Hill in Berryville, Virginia on November 19, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. for an interactive, informal, and engaging discussion on restorative justice, restorative lawyering, and strengthening our communities. The program is free but registration is requested.

    • On November 20, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. EST, a webinar will be produced by the Zehr Institute and Brenda will again be joined as a co-host with Howard Zehr as they explore themes on Restorative Lawyering with a group of international lawyers who are also restorative justice practitioners, including Luis Bravo, Karina Echazú and Petra Šach. Registration is open.

    • On November 17,2025, at 5:30 p.m. Brenda will join members of the West Virginia Restorative Justice Project at Shepherd University for their annual community building circle event. Brenda will engage in informal discussion about the book following the program. The program is free but registration is required.

  • Coming June 18, 2026. We are in the planning process for Rooted Practice: A Path to Becoming a Restorative Lawyer. We will assemble a small, purpose-driven group of just 15 legal professionals 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.

  • West Virginia Restorative Justice Project will be offering a number of programs in 2025 and 2026. On November 17, 2025, they will be hosting community-building circles throughout West Virginia. In March, 2026, they will host Kay Pranis for a circle training. The state-wide Restorative Justice Summit is scheduled for June 26, 2026 at the WVU School of Law in Morgantown, West Virginia. To learn more, visit wvrjp.org.

    MEDIATION RELATED EVENTS, TRAININGS, and CONFERENCES

  • West Virginia Mediators interested in expanding their private practice in family law matters may benefit from online training offered via Zoom in early 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. Registration is capped at 15 participants. Each course is $75.00 and includes the two hours of content and written materials. The courses include:

    • Skills and Techniques for Mediating Property Division in West Virginia. January 8, 2026, 7:00-9:00 p.m. Register here.

    • What Every Family Mediator Should Know About the Law and Division of Marital Assets in Divorce Cases in West Virginia: January 22, 2026, 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. Register here.

    • Skills and Techniques for Mediating Spousal Support and Child Support in West Virginia: February 12, 2026, 7:00-9:00 p.m. Register here.

    • West Virginia Laws on Child and Spousal Support for the Mediator: February 26, 2026, 7:00-9:00 p.m. Register here.

  • West Virginia Mediators and Attorneys seeking to learn more about mediation and earn live continuing education credits before the June 2026 deadline may want to participate in one of our live online webinars. On June 9, 2026, from 12:00 to 12:50 p.m., we will explore the importance of getting off to a good start in mediation in our webinar, The First Five Minutes. Brenda had previously conducted this workshop for the ABA ADR section and for the Virginia Mediation Network. On June 23, 2026, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m., we will offer a program addressing self-determination in mediation, Hijacked. This program has also been part of the ABA ADR section conference, as well as the Pennsylvania Council of Mediators. The cost will be $25.00 for each course, and registration will open on January 1, 2026.

  • West Virginia Family Court Mediation Certification Training. Save the date! This fall, we offered the first training in nearly a decade for certification in Family Court mediation in West Virginia. The final session of this hybrid course, which provides for certification of West Virginia Family Court mediators, concludes on September 25, 2025. The course will be offered again in a hybrid format, which will include eight 3-hour online meetings and a 2.5-day in-person session in 2026. Subject to modification, the course will be offered beginning on August 6, 2026, with weekly meetings through October 1, 2026, from 6:00-9:00 p.m., and 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.. Registration is limited to twenty participants. Registration will open January 1, 2026. The program will be submitted for continuing legal education credits for attorneys.

  • West Virginia Family Court Mediation Continuing Education. The new cohort of family court mediators will collaborate to offer a six-hour Continuing Legal Education Program on September 16, 2026, in Davis, West Virginia, prior to the Certification Training. Details will become available in spring 2026.

    RESTORATIVE LAWYERING and RESTORATIVE JUSTICE EVENTS

  • Restorative Lawyering. In anticipation of the publication of Brenda’s book, Becoming a Restorative Lawyer: How to Transform Your Legal Practice for Self, Client, and Community Growth, several events have been scheduled. The book launch will be during Restorative Justice Week and will include a launch reception in Berryvillle, Virginia and a webinar produced by the Zehr Institute. Stay tuned for further details. Additional information can be found at restorativelawyer.com.

  • Coming June 18, 2026. We are in the planning process for Rooted Practice: A Path to Becoming a Restorative Lawyer. We will assemble a small, purpose-driven group of just 15 legal professionals 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.

  • West Virginia Restorative Justice Project will be offering a number of programs in 2025 and 2026. On November 17, 2025, they will be hosting community-building circles throughout West Virginia. In March, 2026, they will host Kay Pranis for a circle training. To learn more visit wvrjp.org.