Program/Topics

Focus – Legal Issues – Saving Money

Presentations can range from thirty minutes to three-day retreats and workshops. Whether a legal, professional  or personal presentation, Brigid will design her comments so that participants gain a better understanding of the topic, be it the legal system, the effects of alcohol on the profession, how to serve clients or creating a path and plan for resolving conflicts!

Knowledge – Skills – Relationships

Brigid will provide your attendees with what they need to know in order to better understand the quirks of the life and perhaps the legal system. She will dispel the myth that the legal system will deliver what appears to be the logical result. She will help your group identify and develop certain skills that are critical from their perspective. In addition, she shares ways to enhance critical relationships inside and outside the legal system.

Brigid zeros in on four key areas:

• Timing – wise planning to move forward without spending unnecessary time or money on the process
• Getting Yourself and Your Spouse Prepared and Ready for Reconciliation or Divorce
• Keeping Your Money in Your Pockets, Not Ours
• Moving Forward after the Conflict or Divorce with Class and Dignity

Seminar Topics

• ACR approved Mediation Training 40 Hour
  (Association of Conflict Resolution, f/n/a Academy of Family Mediators)
• Adoption Mistakes…Could Baby Richard Happen To You?
• Being an Advocate in Juvenile Court
• Caring Coping and Children Legal Workshop
• Conflict Resolution in the Workplace
• Conflict Resolutions and Divorce Mediation – Screening for Impairments Court Referred Time Limited Mediation
• Delicate Balance – Zealous Representation vs Best Interest of the Child
• Divorce…From Diamonds to Divine
• Divorce & the Holidays…When It’s Not Such a Wonderful Life
• Divorce & its Impact on Children
• Divorce in the State of Illinois – Its Impact on Children, How are the Courts Responding?
• Divorce & Substance Abuse
• Death & Dying, Preparing Yourself & Your Loved Ones for Your Sacred Journey
• Ethics and Confidentiality for Mental Health Professionals
• Ethical Issues in Mediation
• Fathers and Divorce – Legal Rights & Emotional Needs
• Financial Issues – Show Me the Money
• Grandparents Raising…Not Visiting…Grandchildren
• How to Make the Arbitration Process Work For You
• In House & Law Firm Practice, Pros and Challenges
• Law, Judges, Attorneys, Why do we have them?
• The Legal Eagle – Potpourri of Labor & Legal Tidbits
• Marketing Your Mediation Practice
• Marketing Your Collaborative Law Business
• Making Divorce Easier on Kids
• Making and Marketing a Mediation Practice Mediate – Arbitrate – Litigate
• Mediation as an Alternative to the Adversary Process
• Mediation Alternative Solutions to Child Custody Disputes
• Mediation Bias…Who Me Not Neutral?
• Mediation & the Divorce Process
• Mediation & Domestic Violence
• Mediation & Family Law
• Mediation & Financial Issues
• Mediation and Mental Health
• Mediation Training 50 Hour
• Mediation – When, Where, Why and How
• Mental Health & the Legal Process, Assisting clients through the Maze
• Minimizing Visitation Interference
• Motivation for Business & Employee Related Legal Issues
• Paternity and Options, Name Changes, Child Support
• Parenting with Love, Laughter & Limits Plight of Fathering in America: Crucial Legal Reforms
• Preparing Your Client for Mediation
• Solo Practice Lawyering in Today’s Market…Maintaining Emotional Balance in the Midst of Turmoil
• So, You Want to be a Lawyer?
• Strengthening and Expanding Your Legal Practice for Today’s World
• Til Death Do Us Part and More
• Til Death Do Us Part and Other Marriage Myths
• What really happens in Divorce Court? Is it really War of the Roses?
• Work-Life Balance, Stress in the Legal Profession
• Visitation Abuse

As a Speaker, Lecturer, Panelist

2014 Presentations Given

• 12/12 DCBA Basic Skills Seminar- Stress Management
• 10/22 DCBA Breast Cancer Event
• 9/17 Elder Law Committee Meeting- Elder Law Mediation
• 5/9 DCBA Mediation Training
• 4/25 Collaborative Law

2013 Presentations Given

• 5/15 Paralegal Committee Meeting- Stress Management
• 3/5 DCBA: Basic Skills Civility Program

2012 Presentations Given

• 11/30 DCBA Basic Skills: Stress Management, Work Life Balance
• 11/19 Loyola University: ADR
• 9/19 DCBA Mediation Training: How to Effectively Mediate in 3 Hours
• 9/18 Sage Webinar: Proven Negotiating Strategies for Settling Workplace Disputes
• 9/6 40 Hour Divorce and Family Mediation Training IIT
• 4/26 ARDC: New Hearing Board Member Deliberations & Sanctions
• 4/17 North Suburban Bar Association, How to Prepare Your Office for Selling or Closing, Skokie, IL
• 4/14 Midwest Shelter- Dedication of Miller House
• 3/26 Northwest Mediation Center 40 Hour Mediation Training Program Spokane, WA
• 3/14 DCBA Paralegal Committee Meeting- CFS
• 1/23 Colleagues in Crisis- McHenry County Bar Association

2011 Presentations Given

• 11/5 DCBA Guardian Ad Litem Training Alcohol & Substance Abuse Issues
• 10/5 Colleagues in Crisis: At Risk DCBA
• 6/24 Negotiations, Illinois Women’s Council of Realtors at Maggiano’s in Oakbrook
• 5/23 40 Mediation Training Program for Northwest Mediation Center, Spokane Washington
• 5/6 Divorce Illinois at Christ Church, Oakbrook, IL

2010 Presentations Given

• 11/22 Divorce Care Support Group, Lisle IL
• 11/19 DCBA Basic Skills: Stress Management, Work Life Balance
• 11/15 Loyola University: ADR
• 7/12 Divorce Care Support Group, Lisle IL
• 5/10 Celtic Connections: Kankakee Women in Business Reinvent U
• 5/10 Celtic Connections TakeCara U Weekend Acceptance, Lake Geneva, IL
• 4/30 Winnegbago County Bar Association Stress Management, Work Life Balance and Practicing Law Successfully,Rockford, IL
• 4/22 North Suburban Bar Association Stress Management, Work Life Balance and Practicing Law Successfully, Skokie, IL
• 2/23 Family Law Committee Meeting: Why and When Ordered to Mediation, Wheaton, IL
• 2/10 DCBA: Stress Management, Work Life Balance and Practicing Law Successfully, Wheaton, IL

2009 Presentations Given

• 09/09 The Womensa Forum: A Sisterhood of Workplace Infighting
• 6/09 Texas Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers Convention
• 5/09 Northwest Suburban Bar Association – Matrimonial Law Ethics – Professionalism, Civility and Issues of Impairments for Lawyers..Stress, Balance and the Practice of Law
• 4/09 North Suburban Bar Association – Ethics forthe North Suburban Lawyer – Collegeaus in Crisis
• 3/09 DCBA Academy of Bar Leaders Balancing Work, Personal and Family Life
• 2/09 College of DuPage – Mediation Training – 46 Hours

2008 Presentations Given

• 11/08 DCBA: Basic Skills Training Program for Newly Admitted Attorneys
• 10/08 Lake County Criminal Law Seminar – At Risk: Colleagues in Crisis, Fontana Wisconsin
• 6/08 ARDC- What You Always Wanted to Know But Were Afraid to Ask: A Discussion of Professionalism and Current Issues Facing the Legal Profession-Joliet
• 5/08 ABA/APA – Reconceptualizing Child Custody: Past, Present and Future – Lawyers and Psychologists Working Together, Considering Allegations of Substance Abuse in Cases of Disputed Custody
• 4/08 At Risk: Colleagues in Crisis – McLean, IL
• 3/08 DCBA – Basic Skills Seminar – Stress, Diversifying and Networking
• 3/08 DCBA- Academy of Bar Leaders- Professionalism in your Community
• 3/08 Partnership Break-Up
• 2/08 MCLE: Lawyers in the News
• 2/08 College of DuPage – Mediation Training – 50 Hours
• 1/08 MCLE: Witness Preparation- Ethical and Strategic Considerations

2007 Presentations Given/Handouts provided

• 12/07 Winnebago County Bar Association- At Risk: Colleagues in Crisis
• 12/07 IJA/ISBA/Illinois Commission on Professionalism, At Risk: Colleagues in Crisis
• 12/07 Basic Skills Traffic Court
• 12/07 DCBA – Basic Skills Seminar – Stress, Diversifying and Networking
• 11/07 Loyola School of Law -ADR
• 11/07 ARDC What You Always Wanted to Know But Were Afraid to Ask……(the ARDC) Crystal Lake
• 11/07 MCLE: A Primer on Avoiding Potential Conflicts of Interest
• 11/07 NSA-IL; How to Write and Deliver a Dynamic Speech
• 10/07 ARDC – At Risk: Colleagues in Crisis
• 10/07 Keeping Your Sanity in the Practice of Law
• 10/07 MCLE: Ethical and Legal Considerations for the Bench and Bar in Dealing with a Pro Se Litigant in various Civil and Contexts.
• 10/07 MCLE: Ethics and Professional Responsibility Consulting-Addiction and Other Afflictions, Bullies in the Courtroom and the Boardroom, Behind the Scenes at the ARDC and the JIB
• 10/07 MCLE: Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission Chair Meeting
• 10/07 ARDC – Lawyers Assistance Program: Colleagues in Crisis
• 9/07 ARDC What You Always Wanted to Know But Were Afraid to Ask……(the ARDC)Woodridge
• 9/07 Practical Professional Responsibility at the Movies
• 6/07 DCBA – Lawyers at Risk: Colleagues in Crisis
• 5/07 ABA 33rd National Conference on Professional Responsibility and 23rd National Forum on Client Protection
• 4/07 Candidate U-Speaker Business
• 4/07 Nat’l Speaker Association – Managing the Business of Your Business, Building Your Niche Market
• 4/07 Fox Valley Women’s Luncheon – Keynote Speaker – Why We Were Chosen
• 4/07 Annual Family Law Seminar – LAP Presentation – Mental Illness, Addiction Etc
• 3/07 ISBA- Hot Topics in Family Law- Quincy, Illinois
• 3/07 Celtic Legal Society – St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon – The Promise of a New Generation
• 3/07 DCBA – Basic Skills Training – ARDC & LAP Discipline and Mental Health Matters
• 3/07 18th Judicial Circuit – Mandatory Mediation Training
• 3/07 College of DuPage – Mediation Training – 50 Hours
• 2/07 Guardian Ad Litem/Child’s Representative/Attorney for Child Training Program
• 1/07 DCBA: Stress Management, Networking and Diversifying
• 1/07 ARDC- What You Always Wanted to Know But Were Afraid to Ask: A Discussion of Professionalism and Current Issues Facing the Legal Profession in Illinois

2006 Presentations Given

• 12/06 ISBA – How to Prepare you Clients for Mandatory Mediation
• 12/06 Family Law Education Program
• 11/06 MCLE: Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission Board Seminar
• 11/06 Loyola School of Law – ADR
• 11/06 College of DuPage – Paralegal Studies – Your Job and Role in the Practice of Law
• 10/06 DCBA- Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee Meeting
• 09/06 DCBA-Guardian Ad Litem/ Child’s Representative/Attorney for Child
• 9/06 DCBA- Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee Meeting
• 9/06 DCBA-Family Law Committee MCLE Meeting
• 9/06 ISBA: 2nd Solo & Small Firm Conference-St. Charles
• 6/06 ISBA 130th Annual Meeting
• 5/06 DCBA- Parenting the Parent Seminar
• 5/06 DCBA – Mediate – Arbitrate – Litigate
• 5/06 Nat’l Speaker’s Association- Solo Practice Lawyering in Today’s Market…Maintaining Emotional Balance in the Midst of Turmoil
• 3/06 DCBA: Boot Camp-Til Death Do Us Part
• 3/06 Summit Clinical – Mental Health & the Legal Process, Assisting clients through the Maze
• 2/06 Business Savvy- Kick It Up a Notch

2005 Presentations Given

• 7/05 College of DuPage – Mediation Training – 50 Hours
• 4/05 DCBA – Family Law – Til Death do Us Part & More
• 3/05 Serenity House – Saints & Sinners Dinner Keynote Speaker
• 2/05 College of DuPage – Mediation Training – 50 Hours
• 1/05 DCBA-Til Death Do Us Part Seminar

2004 Presentations Given

• 9/04 DuPage Association of Women Lawyers – The Top Ten Law Firm or In House Law Firm Practice, You Make the Choice, Pros and Challenges
• 6/04 College of DuPage – Mediation Training – 50 Hours
• 2/04 College of DuPage – Mediation Training – 50 Hours
• 1/04 Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel – Lawyers Assistance Program

2003 Presentations Given

• 8/03 National Lawyer’s Association – Plight of Fathering in America: Crucial Legal Reforms
• 6/03 College of DuPage – Mediation Training – 50 Hours
• 2/03 College of DuPage – Mediation Training – 50 Hours
• 1/03 DuPage County Bar Association (DCBA) – Family Law Trial Advocacy
• ?/03 Collaborative Family Law Training

2002 Presentations Given

• 7/02 College of DuPage – Mediation Training – 50 Hours
• 1/02 College of DuPage – Mediation Training – 50 Hours
• 4/02 DCBA: Family Law Seminar-Child Custody Evaluations and MMPI 2

2001 Presentations Given

• 12/01 Central DuPage Hospital – Mediation and Mental Health
• 11/01 18th Judicial Circuit – Mediation Training for Mediators
• 10/01 Serenity House – 2nd Annual Women’s Luncheon
• 10/01 Parenting with Love, Laughter & Limits
• 9/01 Mediation Council of Illinois – Grandparents Raising…Not Visiting…Grandchildren
• 7/01 College of DuPage – Mediation Training – 50 hours
• 5/01 College of DuPage – Mediation Training – 50 hours
• 1/01 18th Judicial Circuit – Mediation Training for Mediators

2000 Presentations Given

• 11/00 College of DuPage – Confidentiality for Mental Health Professionals
• 9/00 DuPage County Bar Association (DCBA) Mediation Training 40 hours
• 4/00 Mediation Council Of Illinois – Marketing Your Mediation Practice
• 11/00 DAWL: Litigation Survivor’s Guide
• 4/00 18th Judicial Circuit – Expedited Fee Hearing Seminar

1999 Presentations Given

• 3/99 Concordia University Psychology Students/Courthouse – Mediation
• 9/99 Intern Program – Hogan – Court Referred Time Limited Mediation & Marketing your Mediation Practice

1998 Presentations Given

• 1/30/98 Illinois Issues in Review – Cable Show re Mediation
• 2/3/98 18th Judicial Circuit – Mediation Training for Mediators
• 2/17/98 18th Judicial Circuit – Mediation Training for Mediators
• 2/20/98 18th Judicial Circuit – Evaluation Training for Evaluators
• 2/28/98 DuPage Association of Women Lawyers (DAWL) – So You Want to Practice Law in the 21st Century…It Isn’t Just Litigation Anymore…Preparing Your Client for Mediation
• 3/3/98 Girl Scouts Career Day for Career Badge – Glen Crest Jr. High
• 4/18/98 DuPage County Bar Association, (DCBA) – Family Law and Practice Seminar – Mediation Evaluation Update
• 5/4/98 Cable Show – Family Court
• 5/4/98 Cable Show – Mediation
• 5/5/98 Multiple Dystrophy Group – Wills, Trusts & Estates
• 6/8/98 Chicago Bar Association, Special Consideration Affecting Property, Support & Maintenance.
• 10/13/98 Mediation in Family Law – Loyola University
• 10/15/98 18th Judicial Circuit – Mediator Training – Mediator Bias
• 10/30/98 Aurora University – Marketing Your Mediation Practice
• 11/6/98 DCBA – Mediation Training 40 hours

1997 Presentations Given

• 11/20/97 YMCA – Career Day – So You Want to be a Lawyer
• 11/15/97 Illinois Dept. of Rehab Services DORS – Wills, Trusts And Estates- Obligations & Options
• 11/7/97 DCBA Legal Secretaries – Distinguishing Joint & Sole Custody
• 10/10/97 DCBA Legal Secretaries- Interrogatories- Financial Issues, Show Me the Money
• 9/12/97 DCBA Legal Secretaries- Custody and Visitation Issues
• 9/10/97 DCBA- Mediate/ Arbitrate/Trial-ADR Seminar
• 5/22/97 18th Judicial Circuit\1997 Bench Bar Symposium
• 2/26/97 TIDE Class- Franklin Middle School- Legal Process in Divorce Court
• 2/20/97 DCBA- Mediation Training 40 Hours

1996 Presentations Given

• 1/14/96 DCBA – Admissions and Membership – New Admittee Moderator
• 2/27/96 TIDE Class – Franklin Middle School
• 4/27/96 Bench Bar Forum – Family Law Panel
• 5/17/96 Glenbard South – Juvenile law
• 5/9/96 American Bar Association – Advanced Training Mediation Conference – Family Law Mediation
• 9/4/96 DAWL – Moderate – Family Law Reform
• 9/11/96 DCBA – ADR – Divorce Mediation – Attorney’s perspective
• 9/18/96 DCBA – Moderate – Fundamentals of Family Law- Appeals
• 11/21/96 DCBA – Professional Responsibility Seminar – How to Make the Arbitration Process Work For You

1995 Presentations Given

• 1/17/95 DAWL – Alternative Dispute Resolutions Seminar – Making and Marketing a Mediation Practice
• 1/21/95 DCBA – Matrimonial Law Seminar – Orders of Withholding and Child Support Orders (or whose name is on the mailbox)
• 1/26/95 DCBA Younger Members Seminar – Mediation, When, Where, Why and How
• 5/8/95 Lincoln Elementary School – The Courts
• 9/9/95 DCBA – Mediation Family Law Training Seminar – 40 hours
• 10/20/95 New Supreme Court Rules Governing Civil Discovery Effective January 1, 1996
• 10/95 YMCA – Could Baby Richard Happen To You
• 11/95 AAUW. Panel, Maggie Bennet, Aldo Boti, Alan Acker, Shelter Potpourri of Women’s Legal Issues/Mediation

1994 Presentations Given

• 1/19/94 Divorce Education Workshop – Divorce & The Holidays, When its Not Such a Wonderful Life, Oak Brook Hills (Multiple Presentations Given)
• 2/5/94 Community Focus – Divorce in the State of Illinois – Its Impact on Children, How are the Courts Responding
• 2/24/94 Kane County Mediation Training – COACH for Carl Schneider and Zena Zumeta – 40 hour training
• 3/1/94 TIDE Program – The Legal Process, What really happens in Divorce Court? Is it like Civil Wars?
• 4/19/94 DCBA – Legal Secretary Presentation – Mediation Bias…Who Me Not Neutral
• 4/29/94 MCI – Judges and Lawyers Symposium
• 4/30/94 Illinois Institute of Rehabilitative Services Management Training Seminar – Sexual Harassment, Business Organization, A New Wave, Taking Care of Business
• 5/4/94 Illinois States Attorney/Prosecutor’s DUI Seminar – Champaign Urbana – LAP Presentation
• 5/6/94 St. John’s Lutheran School-Role of Judge
• 6/94 MYM – Paternity and Options, Name Changes, Child Support
• 6/11/94 Community Focus Cable Show – Making Divorce Easier on Kids
• 7/94 Geri Charley Radio Show – Visitation Abuse
• 11/5/94 Aurora University – Conflict Resolutions and Divorce Mediation, Coach – Screening for Impairments
• 12/22/94 Legal Action Cable Show – Mediation
• 3/29/94 Illinois Restaurant Association Customer Service Workshop

1993 Presentations Given

• 5/3/93 Woodridge School – Law, Judges, Attorneys, Why do we have them, First Grade
• 6/18/93 Forest Hospital Fathers and Divorce – Legal Rights & Emotional Needs
• 10/14/93 18th Judicial Circuit – Judges Presentation – CCC- Legal Workshop
• 10/93 ECOD- Extended Children of Divorce – Workshop Legal Process

1992 Presentations Given

• 2/92 CCC – The Legal Process (Multiple Presentation)
• 2/20/92 DCBA – Year of the Child Seminar Series – Delicate Balance – Zealous Representation VS Best Interest of the Child
• 2/27/92 Chicago Tastee Freez Annual Meeting – Motivation for Business & Employee Related Legal Issues
• 4/29/92 DCBA – Family Law and Practice, Mediation Alternative Solutions to Child Custody Disputes
• 7/92 YWCA- Legal Information Service
• 11/92 CCC Video – Robin Miller, Terry Mullen, Brigid Duffield

1991 Presentations Given

• 9/91 First United Realtors – Working with Lawyers and Buyers and Sellers
• ?/90 Gender Bias in the Court

1989 Presentations Given

• 10/26/89 Community High School District, Downers Grove – School Related Constitutional Issues

1988 Presentations Given

• 4/18/88 West Chicago High School – Business Law Class, Small Claims Cases

1987 Presentations Given

• 5/19/1987 Understanding the New Immigration Law

1984 Presentations Given

• 10/23/1984 Midwest Regional Food Service Lodging Exposition

1983 Presentations Given

• 10/17/83 Midwest Food Service Expo – The Legal Eagle – Potpourri of Labor & Legal Tidbits, Ron Sarasin and Brigid Brennan

1979 Illinois Restaurant Association Save Energy Speech

From 1978 to 1983 Brigid was responsible for the Development and Training of Restaurant Owners and Operators relative to the state mandated training programs including the Food Service Sanitation Program; the Dining and Wining Intelligently versus Driving While Intoxicated Program; and Mandatory Tip Reporting Program. Approximately 100 seminars were presented during this time.