When settlement judges transition from the bench, they guess that the highlight of their new career is not having to start each day with civil harassment petitions. But they’d be wrong. The best part is the newfound ability to conduct counsel in advance of settlement negotiations. What a gold mine! The insightful lawyer will tell the mediator what things they need to know to approach negotiations on the ground running — an advantage that hinges on mediation day time not being spent reviewing facts and issues.

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