Debra Whitson is a former prosecutor who opened a family law practice to improve the lives and relationships of others. Debra is the founder of a family law firm and a nationwide virtual mediation database.
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Debra Whitson is a former prosecutor who opened a family law practice to improve the lives and relationships of others. Debra is the founder of a family law firm and a nationwide virtual mediation database.
Debra Whitson always knew that she would be a lawyer. When she was 14 years old, a hometown tragedy made her begin thinking about the legal system and how she could impact the system.
Debra had an interest in psychology which led her to study human development and family studies at Cornell University.
I studied a lot of psychology and sociology as the background for attending law school, explains Debra Whitson.
After a technicality almost caused a perpetrator to get off on their criminal charges, Debra knew that she wanted to become a lawyer to improve the legal system. Of course, as a teenager, Debra was unaware of the complexities of practicing law, and Debra found her own way to advocate for justice as a criminal prosecutor for ten years.
It seemed like the next logical that Debra would use her expertise with issues affecting children and families and open a family law practice and mediation business in New York.
Debra spent half of her legal career working in family law and dealing with divorces, mediation, prenups, etc. These experiences led Debra to write the book, Divorce Like a Pro, where she teaches the reader to divorce with civility and acknowledge how their actions will affect their families.
In the criminal justice system, courts are a necessary part of the proceedings, but the adversarial nature of family law cases needs to be handled gently. For example, Mother v. Father or Plaintiff v. Defendant is the format of family law cases and this can negatively affect the families and make parents think they are warring against each other.
Debra Whitson is an advocate for mediation because the impact of a third party is really beneficial for families and many courts aren't well equipped for the nuances of family dynamics.
Miscommunication is a factor in many divorces. Mediation improves communication between partners and can lead to reconciliation (if appropriate), explains Debra Whitson in Episode 75 of You Are A Lawyer.
Debra explains how every state has its own regulations about alternative dispute resolution and that if it is not an option, Debra hopes that mediation can be an option for couples who are dealing with family issues or contemplating divorce.
If you want to divorce like a pro, you must stop, think, and plan how to approach divorce and other legal issues that will affect your family. Mediators can assist you when you are making these life-changing and relationship-altering decisions.
Lawyers are excellent storytellers; lawyers are taught to sell themselves in writing and when being persuasive to judges and opposing counsel. Every day is a negotiation. Debra worked in real estate to put herself through undergrad and she later worked in marketing for tech companies like IBM. Debra uses her sales background everyday when she sells her clients' stories to a courtroom or judge. Sales and marketing activities are writing a resume, completing an interview, and even writing a legal brief.
Debra worked in the Special Victims Unit and noticed an overwhelming number of women and children being victims of domestic violence. These experiences led Debra Whitson to volunteer with Zonta International. Zonta International is a member of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women and advocates for the rights of women all over the world. Debra uses her time with Zonta to further her advocacy for women and children.
It is clear that Debra Whitson is continuing to improve the legal system with her work in family law and mediation.
Debra Whitson is licensed to practice law in New York. Use this link to buy a copy of Debra Whitson’s book, Divorce Like a Pro: https://amzn.to/3x2Uv9X
Learn more about Debra Whitson:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/whitson-law/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@whitsonlaw?lang=en
WhitsonLaw Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whitsonlaw/
Mediate.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mediatedonlinesolutions/
WhitsonLaw Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whitsonlaw
Mediate.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MediatedOnlineSolutions/
You Are A Lawyer is hosted by Kyla Denanyoh. Follow the podcast:
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Buy a copy of Debra Whitson’s book, Divorce Like a Pro: https://amzn.to/3x2Uv9X
Find a local or nationwide mediator: www.mediate.com
Contact WhitsonLaw: www.whitsonlawfirm.com
Learn more about Zonta International
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How to Divorce in a Better Way featuring Susan Guthrie
How to Have an Amicable Divorce featuring Nicole Kobis
Superwoman is a Myth! Why Asking for Help Made Me a Better Lawyer featuring Krista Lynn
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