One thing I hear people ask when trying to settle a legal dispute is “Why hire a mediator if I already have a good lawyer who is supposed to be negotiating a settlement?” Good question. Legal fees can add up quickly and when faced with the prospect of having to hire a mediator as yet… Read More

The Real Estate Closing – here’s an overview of what you can expect on the day that you have been waiting for! Illinois real estate closings work differently than they do in other states, so pay attention if this is your first time buying or selling a home in the Chicago area! Sellers, if they… Read More

When preparing for Mediation on your case, here are some quick tips for success… Know the Issue(s) that you want to Mediate Have a Clear Idea of Your Position Decide in Advance where there is room for compromise and where there isn’t Bury the Emotional Hatchet, if only temporarily (Keep it Business-Like) Keep an Open… Read More

An offer! So, you got an offer on your house. Now what? First you talked about putting your home on the market. Then you sought out a top real estate agent and listed your house for sale. Given the real estate market across the country in recent years, with Chicago and the surrounding suburbs being… Read More

In the realm of “working things out” as an alternative to fighting in court, it seems that many terms get randomly thrown around, leading to a lot of confusion. You may have heard the terms “collaborative law”, “mediation”, “arbitration”, “alternative dispute resolution” or “conciliation”. The difference between arbitration and mediation is one of the most… Read More

When you are selling your home, you may not care much about the buyer’s financing. However, as the process from contract to closing progresses, you should have a basic understanding of what is happening “on the other side”. When deciding whether or not to accept an offer on the sale of your house, price will… Read More

How do I find a lawyer in the Chicago area? Finding a lawyer is the easy part. In Chicago, lawyers seem to be on every street corner and on every floor of every high rise. The suburbs are full of them too. Just ask Google. What’s not so easy is to find the right lawyer… Read More

Being hit by a car while riding a bicycle can be especially serious, as the bike offers no protection from the force of the hit, usually knocking the cyclist right off from his or her bicycle, leaving everyone wondering how it happened. One moment you are riding along, and the next minute you are down… Read More

What is a Slip and Fall Case? Slip and Fall claims are pretty much what they sound like- someone either slips or falls down on someone else’s property, gets hurt, and takes legal action. Slip and Fall cases are a type of what is called a premises liability case, which means being hurt on someone… Read More