Judge Myriam Lehr on shifting mindsets, assessing risk and building trust in the ADR process.

1. Describe your mediation style.

In mediations, I look to identify key issues, assess practical outcomes and guide parties toward efficient, informed resolution with professionalism and unwavering neutrality. It is important to me to remind the lawyers and the parties that they are not in litigation and that their mindset needs to change; I try to redirect the parties toward solutions. Drawing on my decades of trial experience, I help counsel and clients evaluate risk, exposure and realistic settlement parameters early on. That is a key aspect of my mediation process. I also think respect plays a huge role in making parties feel comfortable with the process, and that goes a long way in helping get parties to resolution. Persistence, combined with patience and respect, continues to drive progress even after parties assume the process is complete.

2. Mediation or arbitration, which do you like more?

I genuinely enjoy both mediation and arbitration work. Mediation allows me to help parties find their own resolutions, while arbitration aligns closely with my judicial experience, where analysis, clarity and decisive application of the law is essential.

3. What kinds of matters do you find most interesting? What practice area would you like to grow in now that you’re with JAMS?

I am particularly drawn to complex civil and commercial disputes. I find great purpose in handling matters involving business and commercial conflicts, insurance coverage, employment and wage issues, and real estate and property disputes, as well as all other types of commercial disputes, because they allow me to apply my judicial experience to inform practical assessments of risk, exposure and potential outcomes.

4. What’s the best lesson you’ve learned in your career?

The lesson that stays with me most is that active listening, patience and thorough preparation change everything. After 27 years on the bench, I’ve learned that when parties feel the judge has read the file, understands the issues and is genuinely listening and not just waiting to speak, they are far more likely to accept the outcomes and trust the process. I bring that same level of preparation to my mediations and arbitrations. It served me well on the bench, and I believe clients value it even more in my work as a neutral.

5. What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?

I am most proud of my 27 years on the bench—not simply serving, but serving fairly, impartially and with integrity so that every person received a fair hearing. I'm also very proud of my involvement in our community, including leading initiatives such as Law Day in Miami-Dade County, the National Association of Women Judges’ Color of Justice Program and the North Dade Justice Center’s internship program. My passion for Law Day continues, and I have been able to work with the team at JAMS to bring an annual Law Day celebration to the Miami Resolution Center. It’s one of the highlights of the year, and I love being able to bring the legal community together in this way. 

6. Who is your favorite book, film or TV show lawyer or judge? Why?

My favorite TV show lawyer is Mickey Haller from the Netflix series “The Lincoln Lawyer.” I just love how he takes the law so seriously and goes all out for his clients. I am an avid reader and have too many favorite books to name, but I have recently enjoyed books by author Erik Larson. Although I read extensively in my work as a neutral, I still enjoy recreational reading as well.