Waugh Law & Mediation

05/28/2026

I am so excited about our upcoming Restorative Lawyer program in Slaty Fork, West Virginia!

This is a small, intimate workshop — intentionally kept that way so we have the space to truly explore the potential of a rooted and restorative practice of law.

We only have TWO seats remaining before we move to a waitlist. If this is speaking to you, I'd love to see you there!

05/27/2026

WV lawyers — your June 30 CLE deadline is coming fast. Rooted Practice gives you 20 of your 24 required hours, including 18 in-person, 2 online, and 3 ethics hours. Register by June 1 for regular pricing.
brendawaugh.com/cletraining/rootedpractice26

05/25/2026

What if lawyers had a summer camp?

New skills. New colleagues. A revitalized practice.

That's the spirit behind our Rooted Practice program — and we'd love to have you join us. Time is running out, so drop your questions in the comments or send us a message. We're here for it.

05/21/2026

Tomorrow I'm hitting the road to Romney to speak with the bar association about mediation — specifically, the Who, What, When, Where, and Why.

The "Why" is where things get really meaningful:
✅ Why clients choose custody mediation
✅ Why judges refer matters to mediation
✅ Why lawyers have an ethical duty to discuss dispute resolution options beyond the courtroom

Check out the slide share below — and if you have questions about whether mediation might be right for your situation, let's talk. 👇

05/19/2026

I am preparing to visit Romney on Friday to address the South Branch Valley Bar at their annual family law conference and discuss mediation. This image is for a slide describing the qualifications to be a mediator in West Virginia. There is no regulation and no requirement--you can just hang out a shingle. If you want to accept referrals from the Family Court...we must be certified by the court. If we want to be listed on the West Virginia State Bar, we must complete the Beginning Mediation Course offered by the ADR section. (The price on the cartoon is the same as the charge Lucy levied for counseling).

05/14/2026

What do the judges think about mediation? What do they want their mediators to know? What do they need to learn more about? And where are they traveling to this summer? I asked these questions during the conference and a few answered them with post-it notes! Some good mediation (and travel) wisdom!

05/14/2026

I'm in Parkersburg enjoying a visit with West Virginia's Family Court judges at the Blennerhasset Hotel. I was joined by two new mediators in Wood County, Courtney Brady and Justin Raber who assisted me as we all explored 50 Reasons that Family Court Judges Love Mediation. A special thank you to the West Virginia Supreme Court for including me in their program and helping us to figure out how to make mediation best serve the families we work with.

05/13/2026

What if your law practice could feel more grounded, sustainable, and deeply connected to your values?

Rooted Practice: A Path to Becoming a Restorative Lawyer is more than a CLE retreat — it’s an opportunity to step away from the pressure and pace of traditional legal culture and reconnect with why you began this work in the first place.

Join us in the mountains of West Virginia for an immersive experience exploring restorative lawyering, conflict transformation, lawyer well-being, and relationship-centered practice. Together, we’ll learn practical tools for creating healthier legal systems while building meaningful community with fellow practitioners.

✨ 20+CLE credits
✨ Lodging & meals included
✨ Experiential learning + reflective practice
✨ Designed for lawyers, mediators, judges & legal professionals
✨ No prior restorative justice experience required

If you’re seeking a more human, sustainable, and restorative way to practice law, join us June 18 6:00 p.m.-June 20 1:30 p.m. (and two short lunch meetings before and after the session!)

Learn more & register here:
https://www.brendawaugh.com/cletraining/rootedpractice26

Earn 20 hours of legal education (CLE) while creating space for deep reflection, practical training, and community building. This retreat is for lawyers ready to shift from burnout and adversarial norms toward a restorative approach that centers justice, connection, and well-being.

05/13/2026

If you're going to talk evidence and outcomes, do it in front of the people who can actually put it to work. Heading to the beautiful Blennerhassett Hotel in Parkersburg Wednesday to present 50 Reasons to Love Mediation to West Virginia Family Court Judges — interactive, lively, and a wonderful group!

05/11/2026

Tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. I'll be presenting virtually at the 2026 Annual Symposium of the Centre for Informal Dispute Resolution (CIDR) at Saint Paul University in Ottawa: Navigating Crises: The Evolving Role of ADR Practitioners and Ombuds in Turbulent Times.

I'll be sharing the case that broke my heart and set me on the path to becoming a restorative lawyer. Every day driving back from court, I listened to Tracy Chapman singing All That You Have Is Your Soul. That song carried something I couldn't yet name but needed to find.

My presentation draws on my book, *Becoming a Restorative Lawyer*, published by Good Media Press and available at online booksellers or by order through your local bookstore.

Grateful to be part of this gathering of dispute resolution professionals from around the world, even from a distance. 🙏