MARCH 10 • 2022 | 27
A
lisa Peskin-Shepherd
has faced divorce
issues within her own
family, and they motivated
a career interest in assisting
others coping with marriage
dissolution problems.
In childhood, she was
affected by divorce pro-
ceedings entered into by her
mother, a remarried widow.
In adulthood, her professional
goals transitioned from social
work into family law.
Gradually, after some 25
years in practice, Peskin-
Shepherd again faced personal
divorce issues and choices, this
time calling an end to her own
quarter-century of marriage.
When Peskin-Shepherd, the
mother of two grown daugh-
ters, proceeded through family
court nine years ago in her
own behalf with representa-
tion by another attorney, she
felt confident about approach-
ing solutions because of her
personal and professional
experiences.
Working on behalf of others,
she kept alert to new ways of
educating and counseling cli-
ents who lacked the insights
and resources she understood.
Two years ago, this attorney
learned about an approach
that resonated with her out-
look and intent, and she
became the first Michigan
licensee for Our Family in
Two Homes, a divorce edu-
cation process. It combines
workbook exercises completed
individually by one or both
spouses and three consult-
ing sessions for each with an
attorney.
“The idea that clients can
educate themselves about the
law and what their preferenc-
es, issues and conflict styles
might be in advance of getting
deeper into the negotiations
really made sense to me,”
said Peskin-Shepherd, whose
private practice, Transitions
Legal, is based in Bloomfield
Hills while she also serves as a
pro bono consultant for those
seeking help through Jewish
Family Service of Metro
Detroit.
“Clients are always looking to
save money, and the workbook
allows them to do some work on
their own. They can figure out
the issues they need me to work
on with them and what issues
might need less focus.
”
The program was developed
under the leadership of Jacinta
Gallant, a Canadian collaborative
lawyer and mediator specializing
in conflict resolution. Licensees
have monthly Zoom meetings
with her to discuss their personal
experiences using the process.
Peskin-Shepherd divides
major divorce issues into three
categories — emotional, financial
and legal. Impressed that Our
Family in Two Homes addresses
all three, she studied the method
last year and has interested two
clients now immersed in it.
“I belong to the International
Academy of Collaborative
Professionals, and every year
we have an educational forum,
”
Peskin-Shepherd explained
about her introduction to the
program. “
A workshop was
about this resource package.
“Because I often work with
individuals who are deciding
whether to get a divorce, I rec-
ommend this approach since it
can structure their time think-
ing about all that is involved.
It gives them directions that
might suggest their issues
could be worked out so they
don’t have to go ahead with the
divorce.”
An example of an exercise
has to do with recognizing val-
ues. Participants are provided
with a series of cards that lead
them to acknowledge what
they value and how they apply
those values while interacting
with family members.
“It gives people a lot of
insight,
” said the attorney, also a
mediator trained in collaborative
divorce techniques, parts of a
process outside of the courtroom
with each client represented by
a collaboratively trained attor-
ney and supported by a team of
specialists in the areas of mental
health and finances.
In collaborative divorce,
decisions are made around a
conference room table with par-
ticipants working together.
Peskin-Shepherd explained
that considerations and pro-
cedures for a religious divorce
in Judaism are separate from
the civil divorces she handles.
Outcomes in religious proce-
dures are decided by rabbis
with some attention to issues
covered by civil laws.
“Most issues in any divorce
case, whether civil or reli-
gious, stem from some kind
of emotional issues,” said
Peskin-Shepherd, a member of
Congregation B’nai Moshe who
participates in weekly Torah
study. “If clients can identify
those and get help with those,
they can save money in the
long run.
“Part of my mission is to edu-
cate other colleagues about the
resource package to bring them
on board. I can use the resource
package with both clients when I
am acting as a mediator.
”
“Education helps people
make decisions, and I believe
this workbook can help iden-
tify goals and options while
keeping their children in
the forefront, which is most
important.”
Local attorney educates clients
with ‘Our Family in Two Homes.’
Divorce
Education
SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Alisa Peskin-Shepherd