It is said there are no disputes more bitter or painful than will contests and divorces. You don't have to look long to find example of this. The news and tabloids are full of stories about disappointed heirs and angry exspouses. To resolve disputes in family law cases, legal teams often use alternative dispute resolution (ADR), which can mitigate both the monetary and emotional costs of resolving such potentially bitter disputes. Refer to the scoring guide to ensure you have met the criteria for this assessment.

Instructions

1. Review the required readings.
2. Conduct research to find an article regarding a bitter divorce case or a dispute involving a will.
3. In a new Microsoft Word document, answer the following questions:
   • What appears to be motivating some people to embark on such a stressful undertaking?
   • How can ADR help resolve divorce or will disputes?
   • What different methods of dispute resolution could the parties have employed in their case?
   • What role do paralegals play in ADR and what types of tasks do paralegals perform in ADR?
   • What professional skills are required of a paralegal in an ADR case?
   • Compare and contrast the paralegal role in an ADR case with that of an attorney. How are the roles similar or different?
   • If you were a mediator for the case you read about, what, if anything, could you do to minimize the emotional strains faced by the parties involved in such a case?