Top Mediation Lawyers Near Me in Solana Beach Area

My Passion Is Family Mediation and Conflict Resolution. Growing up, my mom was a therapist, and I learned early on how important our feelings can be in our relationships, and that we need to tell other people how we feel or they won’t know what needs to be changed. I had initially thought about following in my mom’s footsteps and becoming a therapist, but I was also really interested in the law and problem-solving. I had also always done a lot of work with kids and families, from babysitting when I was young, to working as a camp counselor to teaching religious school and youth group programs between college and law school.. While I was in law school at Chapman University, I completed my basic and advanced mediation training and began mediating civil cases in the Riverside Superior Court. Additionally, I assisted the Riverside Courts Alternative Dispute Resolution Office in implementing a Juvenile Mediation program at Juvenile Hall for the residents. Working with these children and teenagers to teach them effective methods of problem-solving and dispute resolution that wouldn’t land them back in jail made me realize how important a tool conflict resolution is and I knew that I wanted to make mediation my career. I first met Jennifer when I interned for her in law school and after working together for a few years we knew the time was right to venture out on our own in 2015. In 2021 we co-founded West Coast Family Mediation Center to continue growing and working with families all throughout California to resolve, rebuild, and renew their lives.. When I’m not working I am super active, whether that means going for a run, doing yoga, or a spin class on the Peloton. On the weekends my husband Mike and I enjoy spending time outdoors hiking or taking our dog Toby to run around at dog beach. We also enjoy traveling to new places (our last big trip was Thailand and Singapore) to take photographs and try new foods. When we’re home we love to cook new dishes or recreate dishes we’ve had while traveling or eating out. I also love spending time with my 6-year-old niece, friends, and family.. Why I chose to work in mediation. During my senior year at Brandeis University, I took one of my last classes for my legal studies, a minor on mediation, negotiation, and conflict resolution. This class is what really turned me on to mediation and made me realize that there was a career option that would allow me to blend the emotional skills required to negotiate conflict with practical problem-solving. When I applied to law school, I only applied to schools that had dispute resolution programs. This way, I could not only get my law degree, but also take classes in mediation and conflict resolution. I was determined not to be in graduate school for longer than three years, so I worked on completing my JD at Chapman University School of Law while earning my Masters in Dispute Resolution (MDR) from the Straus Institute of Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University School of Law. While I was completing both of these degrees, I was able to learn more about the law as well as better understand conflict, how people deal with conflict and ways to resolve it. Soon after graduating with Masters and JD I also became a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst to further my education around the financial issues couples face in divorce.. I knew then as I know now that family law is an area where people greatly benefit from mediation because couples getting divorced are going through tremendous changes in their lives. The court does not have the time, energy, or resources to effectively work with each couple to recognize this and help them move forward. Mediation, on the other hand, honors the emotions that they are feeling about what they are going through. It assists them in moving forward, not only through the legal process but also in strategizing ways to effectively maintain a relationship—and not hate each other at the end of the process. This is especially beneficial when kids are involved.. My community involvement. I serve as Vice President of the Academy of Professional Family Mediation (APFM), the premiere family mediation association in North America. I have also been a co-chair for the APFM annual conference for five years in a row, and have presented at the last six conferences on various topics related to family mediation. Additionally, I am the Vice President of Finance and Fundraising for Lawyers Club of San Diego, finishing up my three-year board term this year. I am also a member of the Institute of Divorce Financial Analysts, the State Bar of California, the American Bar Association, San Diego County Bar Association, San Diego Family Law Bar Association and ProVisors.

HOW to divorce is almost as important as WHETHER to divorce. That’s why working with Shawn Weber is a whole person experience where logic integrates with creativity. Shawn’s not your everyday family law attorney, because for him your divorce is a human experience, not just a legal process. He has a profound ability to get into the world you are experiencing to uncover the necessary clarity in your divorce relationship dynamic.. Unlike other attorneys who look for quick fixes to get through the immediate legal step, Shawn uses a longer range perspective seeking long-term solutions for maximum benefit now and after divorce. Rather than only assist with the immediate legal issues and process, Shawn takes a more holistic approach coaching you on how to reduce conflict with the other party that builds skills you can carry on beyond your case.. Understanding that family law disputes often invoke the most primal of human emotions, Shawn helps you navigate the constantly changing currents of family law. For example, he will show you how to separate the noise in hostile emails from distinguishing nuggets that need a response, and how to interact in an effective solutions way as opposed to an angry, defensive, hostile manner.. Straight Talk, No Sugar Coating. Shawn will tell you what you need to hear and not necessarily what you want to hear. He is very grounded in the reality of what you will get and what you won’t get. As a result, his clients rely heavily on Shawn for advice and protection, especially when the stakes are high. With an innate empathetic nature, he is able to navigate these most difficult situations.. Shawn is different than most attorneys, because of his conflict management skills to reduce conflict in all areas of divorce relationships. You will experience clarity, safety and direction that gives you a chance for healthier kids, healthier families and a healthier, more self-assured you.. Experience and Qualifications. Certified as a Legal Specialist in Family Law by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization, Shawn has worked exclusively in the area of family law for more than 15 years. In that time, he has proven to be a skilled advocate and attorney, as well as an adroit negotiator and mediator. He is especially skilled in resolving difficult divorce, alimony, child support, custody and visitation issues in an unthreatening and confidential environment through mediation, with a high success rate.. Today, Shawn is focused exclusively on mediation, collaborative divorce matters, consulting and agreements. In 2006, he became a partner in Brave, Weber & Mack, APLC and took on additional responsibilities as the firms CFO. Prior to that, he was the firm’s Managing Attorney, where he grew the firm from a small solo practice to a four lawyer, 10-employee firm. In addition, under his guidance the clientele quadrupled in four years.. Shawn views community service as a high calling and is an active volunteer. Currently, Shawn volunteers with the Boy Scouts of America and mentor’s teenagers at his church. Specific to family law, he has volunteered as a Board Member of the Collaborative Family Law Group of San Diego since 2005 and served as the organization’s president in 2009.. A father of five, Mr. Weber understands the human side of family law and brings his real life experience to the table for his clients.