In the acknowledgements to my new book, Becoming a Restorative Lawyer: How to Transform Your Legal Practice for Self, Client, and Community Growth, I wrote: “Somewhere along the way, some of us become fortunate enough to find ourselves in a community that supports, encourages, and loves us. I am grateful to have fallen in with the right crowd, who made it possible for me to find my way to becoming a restorative lawyer. Thank you to everyone in this community, including my family and friends, who created space for me to explore this practice and find time to write about it.”
At the time, I didn’t fully understand how wide and generous that community truly is. Last week, which coincided with the book launch and with Restorative Justice Week, made that very clear. From the opening events hosted by the West Virginia Restorative Justice Project at the Jefferson Senior Center and Shepherd University, to a conversation on the Blessed Be podcast, to the gathering at the Barns of Rose Hill, and then the webinar with the Zehr Institute and three colleagues from abroad, I felt consistently supported and encouraged.
Throughout the week, I heard a shared hope for a legal culture that leans more toward cooperation than conflict. I appreciated the chance to talk about the experiences—uplifting, challenging, and complicated—that shaped my work. I also appreciated the many reconnections with clients, colleagues, friends, and family. Two clients whose stories appear in the book attended the events, and their kindness reminded me why this work matters. Marshall Yoder, who joined me in imagining an early form of this approach years ago, recalled our first presentation on the topic at the 2008 Association for Conflict Resolution conference in Austin. Immigration attorney Ozlem Barnard took part in one of the events and later shared thoughtful reflections about the conversation on professional responsibility. Theresa Merkel, my mentor when I trained as a court-referred mediator in Virginia, greeted me with a hug and tears of joy as we talked about our shared dedication to problem-solving outside of adversarial systems. The week also brought opportunities to reconnect with friends from my time at the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding at Eastern Mennonite University.
Looking ahead, I’m encouraged by the interest in the ideas behind the book. In June, I will join colleague Taylor Graham in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, for the first in-person retreat devoted to this approach to lawyering. We’ll explore the book’s themes in a rural setting designed to support reflection and help participants adapt the material to their own practices, while also building a professional network committed to more humane legal processes. In late April, I will offer a full-day workshop for the Pennsylvania Council of Mediators focusing on how traditional legal habits can unintentionally shape mediation, and how mediators can shift toward more collaborative methods.
Earlier in the year, I will lead a set of workshops in January and February for those interested in family mediation in West Virginia, expanding on the fall training for new mediators. Additional readings and events are also in progress.
My partners during launch week have full schedules ahead. The Barns of Rose Hill has a variety of performances and community programs planned for the season. Blessed Be continues to build new episodes that explore root causes of conflict and pathways to meaningful change. The Zehr Institute has a series of December webinars addressing different dimensions of restorative work. The West Virginia Restorative Justice Project is planning two events in the coming months, including a statewide summit in June. And I will return to the Jefferson County Senior Center to train several participants in circle keeping.
As we enter a week when many of us pause to reflect on what we appreciate, I continue to think about the people who helped bring this book into the world. I am especially grateful for everyone who contributed to such a meaningful and memorable launch week.
