May 12, 2020

Trial by Zoom: A Look at Online Adjudications with Renowned Family Law Attorney, Randy Kessler on the Learn to Mediate Online Podcast with Susan Guthrie, Esq. #107

36 minutes

With our entire world moving online, is it any wonder that the courts are moving there too? On this week's episode of The Learn to Mediate Online Podcast, Susan Guthrie speaks with leading family law attorney and litigator, Randy Kessler, a veteran of inumerable courtroom proceedings who recently had his first opportunity to experience a virtual courtroom and the results surprised even a seasoned attorney like him! Randy shares his insights and thoughts about what worked about the online platform (and in some ways was even better than in person matters) and where it still may fall short. This is a fascinating peek into what is sure to become a staple of our judicial system as we move through COVID and beyond!

Some Highlights from this Episode:

How are objections handled in a virtual trial and why is it better than in-person?

What effect did the fact that all the participants could see themselves play in the proceeding?

Why is witness sequestration so much easier online?

What are the environmental benefits of holding trials virtually?

Why is a virtual trial especially effective for family law trials?

Randy covers all this and more in the episode so be sure to LISTEN NOW!

Here is a link to Randy's article for Law.com on the Zoom trial experience. Trial by Zoom

More about this week's guest:

In 1991, Randall M. Kessler founded the law firm now known as Kessler & Solomiany, LLC, a 30 person family law firm in Atlanta. He is the author of many family law books including Divorce: Protect Yourself, Your Kids and Your Future, The GA Library of Family Law Forms, and How to Mediate a Divorce. He is an adjunct professor of Family Law Litigation at Emory Law School. Mr. Kessler has served as the Chair of the Family Law Sections of the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Georgia and the Atlanta Bar Association.

Born in Gainesville, Florida, raised in New Orleans and having attended college at Brandeis University near Boston, MA, Randall M. Kessler came to Georgia in 1985 to attend Emory Law School. He has over 30 years of experience in Domestic Relations and Family Law matters including divorce, custody, paternity, prenuptial agreements and child support. He Founded KS Family Law in 1991 after practicing for years at other family law boutique firms. Mr. Kessler teaches family law jury trials at Emory Law School and taught Family Law at John Marshall Law School from 2005 – 2019. He has lectured for the ABA, AAML, AICPA, NACVA, IAAR, NFLPA, NBPA, the Georgia Psychological Association (GPA), the Georgia Society of CPAs, the Cobb, Gwinnett, DeKalb and Atlanta Bar Associations and others all over the country and in fact, all over the world. Mr. Kessler is the Editor Emeritus of the Family Law Review for the State Bar of Georgia and is the former Chair of the Family Family Law Sections of the American Bar Association, the Georgia Bar Association and the Atlanta Bar Association. He is author of many Family Law Books including Divorce, Protect Yourself, Your Kids and Your Future, The Georgia Library of Family Law Forms and How to Mediate a Divorce. He is proficient in both Spanish and Hebrew.

You can find out more about Randy's passion project Starsona, and get your own personalized star shout out at www.starsona.com!

You can reach Randy at [email protected] and find out more about his firm, Kessler & Solomiany at https://www.ksfamilylaw.com/

******************************************************************************************************

About Our Host: Susan Guthrie, nationally recognized as one of the Top Family Law and Mediation Attorneys in the country, has been helping individuals and families navigate separation and divorce for 30 years. Susan provides online divorce mediation and legal coaching services to select clients around the world.As a leading dispute resolution professional, Susan is honored to serve on the Executive Council of the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Dispute Resolution Section as the Membership Officer and to be a Co-Chair of the Mediation Committee.

Susan also is one of the leading experts in online mediation in the country and trains other professionals in the practical and ethical considerations of conducting their mediations online through her business Learn to Mediate Online (www.learntomediateonline.com.) Susan offers additional training and webinars in Social Media Marketing for Professionals, DIY Website Basics, Building an Online Practice, Starting a Podcast and more so be sure to check the site for dates and times!

Susan has been featured in and on media outlets such as CNBC, Market Watch, Forbes, Eye on Chicago, WGN, the ABA’s Just Resolutions Magazine, Thrive Global, The Nook Online among others. She is licensed to practice law in the States of California and Connecticut as well as before the Supreme Court of the United States.

Susan's other Podcasts: After a year and half of co-hosting the award winning podcast, Breaking Free: A Modern Divorce Podcast which has reached over 3 million listeners, Susan recently launched her fresh and inspiring new podcast, The Divorce and Beyond Podcast with Susan Guthrie, Esq. (www.divorceandbeyondpod.com) which debuted on iTunes “Top Podcasts” List for self-help podcasts. Divorce & Beyond is focused on pulling back the curtain on the mysteries of the divorce process and bringing tips and resources to help people to thrive and shine in their new future beyond divorce.

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platform so that you don't miss an episode and if you enjoyed this episode, please give us a 5 Star Rating on iTunes and tell us what you liked in a REVIEW!

...more