Illinois Mediator and Collaborative Law Attorney

As a mediator and collaborative law attorney, I encourage individuals to seek alternative forms of dispute resolution. Disputes do not have to go to litigation. I have devoted the majority of my career to helping clients find workable and peaceful resolutions to disputes in the areas of divorce, business law, personal injury and more.

Education

• J.D., University of Chicago Law School, 1972
• B.A., University of Chicago, (Special Honors, Political Science), 1969

Professional Status

• Founding Member, Fellow and Founding Secretary, Collaborative Law Institute of Illinois.
• Convener and Supervisor – monthly mediation case consultation group, Lake County, Illinois, for experienced mediators.
• Advanced Practitioner Member, Association for Conflict Resolution, Approved Panelist for ACR referral list; Approved Panel Member, Mediation Council of Illinois Referral Service and Lake County Bar Association Mediation Program; United States Postal Service REDRESS Program since 1999; Key Bridge Foundation, Washington, D.C., Mediation of Americans with Disabilities Act claims since 1996; Certified Mediator, Civil and Family, 19th Judicial Circuit, Lake County, Illinois; Illinois Agriculture Mediation Program, U.S.D.A., certified program for Illinois (mediation of USDA programs such as environment, contract disputes, land use, lending, housing); Center for Conflict Resolution, Chicago, mediation of cases for Illinois Department of Human Rights and Circuit Court of Cook County; federal EEO claims for the Social Security Administration.

Employment

• Private Practice of Mediation, 1991-present
• Private Practice of Law, 1975-present
• Assistant State’s Attorney, Cook County, 1973-1975
• Law Clerk, Justice Joseph J. Drucker, Illinois Appellate Court, 1972 – 1973

Other Employment

• Adjunct Professor of Law, Mediation and Negotiation, ITT-Chicago Kent College of Law, 2008 – present
• Visiting Lecturer, undergraduate and graduate level Conflict Resolution, North Central College, 2000-2003
• Instructor, DePaul University College of Commerce, 1980 – 1981, 1987
• Lecturer, Legal Writing and Research, ITT – Chicago Kent College of Law, 1973-1976

Classes/Seminars Taught

• Visiting Lecturer, Undergraduate and Graduate Level Conflict Resolution, North Central College, 2000 – Present
• Instructor, DePaul University College of Commerce, 1980-1981, 1987
• Lecturer, Legal Writing and Research, ITT Chicago Kent College of Law, 1973 – 1976
• “The Ethics of Mediation Style” (Co-Presenter), Emerging Issues in Mediation Conference, University of Wisconsin and Wisconsin Association of Mediators, Madison, Wisconsin, 2003
• “Divorce Mediation — The Civilized Alternative”, The Lilac Tree, Evanston, Illinois, 2003
• Annual Guest Lecture, “Power, Power Imbalances and Caucus”, Combined Conflict Resolution Classes, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, 1998 – Present
• “What Lawyers Can Do to Facilitate Mediation”, Family Law Seminar, Lake County Bar Association, 2003
• Mediator Training, “Screening for Impairments to Mediation”, 19th Judicial Circuit Family Mediation Program, Grayslake, Illinois, April 12, 2003
• “Power Imbalances and Anger in Mediation – No Problem”, Family Law Seminar, Lake County Bar Association, 2002
• “Working with Attorneys in Mediation” (Co-Presenter), Association for Conflict Resolution Seminar, Family Section Conference, Savannah, Georgia, March 2, 2002
• ADR: “Appropriate Dispute Resolution”, Association of Women Attorneys, Lake County Illinois, Approved Continuing Legal Education Seminar, January 11, 2008
• Mediating in the Face of Strongly Held Beliefs, National Conference Association for Conflict Resolution, Philadelphia, 2006

I invite you to contact me to arrange for a consultation.

Jerald A. Kessler
14047 Petronella Drive, Suite 202B
Libertyville, Illinois 60048
Map and directions
Phone: 847-367-4500
Fax: 847-367-9424