All Great Men Have Mothers: A Book ReviewBy Sandra Crawford, J.D.Diversity Leadership Council, June 2026The mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcom X, and James Baldwin played a pivotal role in their sons' lives. While often discussed less, this book sheds light on how Alberta Williams King, Louise Little, and Berdis Jones Baldwin raised men who would change the country's landscape.
The Illinois Supreme Court Wants Parents to Resolve Parenting DisputesBy Sandra Crawford, J.D.Rural Practice, May 2026Mediation is a requirement when parents are involved in a parenting allocation dispute. The sooner that you explain this requirement to clients, as well as the benefits of mediation, the less clients will feel defeated or caught off guard when a court inevitably orders the parties in a parental allocation matter to mediation.
All Great Men Have Mothers: A Book ReviewBy Sandra Crawford, J.D.Women and the Law, April 2026The mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcom X, and James Baldwin played a pivotal role in their sons' lives. While often discussed less, this book sheds light on how Alberta Williams King, Louise Little, and Berdis Jones Baldwin raised men who would change the country's landscape.
The Illinois Supreme Court Wants Parents To Resolve Parenting DisputesBy Sandra Crawford, J.D.Family Law, April 2026Mediation is a requirement when parents are involved in a parenting allocation dispute. The sooner that you explain this requirement to clients, as well as the benefits of mediation, the less clients will feel defeated or caught off guard when a court inevitably orders the parties in a parental allocation matter to mediation.
Illinois Family-Lawyers Ethical Obligation to Our Clients’ ChildrenBy Sandra Crawford, J.D.Family Law, March 2026While Illinois attorneys may not have an explicit ethical duty to protect a client's child, ethical rules governing an attorney's behavior establish responsibilities to promote, safeguard, and avoid harm to children involved in family law matters.
What Is Mediation and ADR: History, Models, and PrinciplesBy Sandra Crawford, J.D.Federal Taxation, December 2025An overview on the origins of mediation and alternative dispute resolution, different models of mediation, and the core principles of mediating disputes.
What Is Mediation and ADR: History, Models, and PrinciplesBy Sandra Crawford, J.D.General Practice, Solo, and Small Firm, November 2025An overview on the origins of mediation and alternative dispute resolution, different models of mediation, and the core principles of mediating disputes.
What Do We Mean by “Human Rights?” Can We Agree?By Sandra Crawford, J.D.Human and Civil Rights, August 2025While there may not be a universal definition of "human rights," this article explores the origins of human rights and how everyone's right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of security of person must be protected.
What Is Mediation and ADR: History, Models, and PrinciplesBy Sandra Crawford, J.D.Family Law, August 2025An overview on the origins of mediation and alternative dispute resolution, different models of mediation, and the core principles of mediating disputes.
The Law: A Proverbial Hammer or Shield in Collaborative Practice?By Sandra Crawford, J.D.Alternative Dispute Resolution, February 2025The Collaborative Process aims to help clients find customized solutions that meet their self-identified needs while understanding the legal framework. In collaborative law, transparency is crucial in fostering effective conflict resolution. It involves openly sharing information, including legal perspectives and potential outcomes, with all participants.
Insight Mediation: The Evolution of Mediation Theory and PracticeBy Sandra Crawford, J.D.Alternative Dispute Resolution, April 2024Insight mediation helps parties tell their stories, explore underlying interests and concerns, and generate options for solving problems and reaching agreements.
Adjudication vs. ADR in Family Law: In Search of Deeper Dialogue and UnderstandingBy Sandra CrawfordFamily Law, March 2024Conflict resolution practitioners must be able to convey the benefits and drawbacks to different models of conflict resolution since the model a client uses to address disputes can have a profound impact on the process and outcome.
Adjudication vs. ADR in Family Law, in Search of Deeper Dialogue and UnderstandingBy Sandra Crawford, J.D.Alternative Dispute Resolution, February 2024The model of conflict resolution a client uses to address their legal disputes can have a profound impact on things like how long they will be in process and how sustainable their outcomes will be.
Teamwork Essential to the Practice of Collaborative ProcessBy Sandra CrawfordAlternative Dispute Resolution, March 2021The International Academy of Collaborative Professionals promulgates standards and ethics for professionals practicing collaborative law.
Creating gender equality: TakeawaysBy Sandra CrawfordWomen and the Law, April 2019Key takeaways from a recent panel presentation on creating gender equality in the workplace.
Chair’s columnBy Sandra CrawfordAlternative Dispute Resolution, December 2018A note from the chair of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Section, Sandra Crawford.
Chair’s columnBy Sandra CrawfordAlternative Dispute Resolution, November 2018An introduction to various members of the ADR Section Council and the amazing variety of work and professional activities that go on under the ADR umbrella in Illinois.
Collaborative process and lawyers as “Public Citizens”By Sandra CrawfordAlternative Dispute Resolution, February 2018This article lays out why the dispute resolution model, known as Collaborative Process, helps lawyers achieve all four obligations set out in the Rules of Professional Conduct and how this in turn benefits individual clients and the legal system as a whole.
Spotlight on ADR section member Judge Allan Goldberg (Ret.)By Sandra CrawfordAlternative Dispute Resolution, November 2017Author Sandra Crawford recently sat down with the former ISBA ADR Section Chair to learn his opinions on his career and the state of ADR today.
Celebrating ADRBy Sandra CrawfordAlternative Dispute Resolution, October 2016This year’s celebration of Mediation Week will take place between October 16th and 22nd.
A tale of two communities: Bringing pro bono collaborative law to Illinois National Guard veteransBy Sandra CrawfordAlternative Dispute Resolution, January 2016The Collaborative Law Institute of Illinois and the Health & Disability Advocates of Warrior to Warrior have rolled out a pro bono program to bring the Collaborative Practice model of divorce dispute resolution to Illinois Army National Guard Veterans and their families.
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