The Divorce Coach

Help in Court

More Courtroom Coaching Feedback

Last week I wrote a long case study of 'Barry' who had a much better understanding of the reality of the situation and his expectations in court for his divorce case as a result of the help he received as part of the Courtroom Coaching pilot. Read more here.

The pilot needs a handful more cases - people who are facing a court appearance - any appearance - and needing some emotional and practical support. This is FREE help to prepare for a courtroom appearance (for the duration of the pilot.) This support is also appropriate for an employment tribunal case, family and children related, a civil dispute - even a crown court jury member!

Here's some more feedback from some grateful Courtroom Coaching coachees:

Julian had changed solicitors when he met Shelagh by chance in court (Shelagh Goldie is the lawyer in charge of the pilot.) He was in court on a domestic violence case (he being abused by his wife) which was having a serious effect on his health. Afterwards he said ' It (Courtroom coaching) calmed me down a bit and helped me feel better about my legal case.'

Shelagh reports: 'Julian now feels much better and certainly sounded like a different man on the phone. He said he didn't win but he did felt that he was well prepared and did all that he could. Our work had helped him accept the outcome as realistic.

Julian said: 'Even now, this telephone conversation (after the court case was over) helps me big time - it gives me closure and helps me get on with my life.'

Eric was referred by his lawyer at Withy King, solicitors, on an employer liability case which had started three years earlier. The case settled out of court shortly before the hearing with an offer Eric's solicitor made - and the other side accepted. Shelagh writes 'Eric is very pleased.'

On Courtroom coaching Eric said' "It was very good. It calmed my nerves and made me realise that they are not there to prosecute me but that they will listen and make an informed decision.

The court visit allayed my fears. I saw it was a much more intimate place than I had feared. I thought the whole thing was handled very well, and my fears of meeting a stranger in court who would question me completely disappeared."

There'll be many more case stories appearing on the Courtroom coaching website shortly (presently under re-development.) Watch this space!

The pilot needs a handful more cases - this can be an employment tribunal, family and children related, a civil dispute, even a crown court jury member!

Do let me know if we can help anyone you know going to court! Read more here about Courtroom Coaching.

Kirsten Gronning

Feedback from Barry who was worried sick about going to court

How Can I Prepare For Court?

Shelagh Goldie is the lawyer in charge of the pilot and reports how Courtroom Coaching has helped 'Barry H' prepare for his appearance in court. Barry was referred by his solicitor at Withy King in Bath on a divorce case.

Shelagh writes that Courtroom Coaching has helped him:

• To prepare for the experience.
• Understand the process and the actual preparation he should do - e.g. learning how to keep calm.
• To instruct his solicitor more clearly and helped him understand the reality of the situation, the worst outcome and the best outcome.
• Helped him to see things from different people's point of view - he had not fully contemplated his options prior to our work with him.
• Have a much better understanding of the no blame and no punishment approach. He said it highlighted that the law is an ass!
• Recognise that his behaviour would not be taken into account in any settlement, but rather it would focus on needs.

The negotiations:

• He said he felt he was taking a more pragmatic approach on the day of the negotiations and his solicitors had mentioned this.
• It gave him closure and helped him handle things better.
• He had a better understanding of his expectations.
• Previously his solicitor had mentioned that he was idealistic and had been unreasonably optimistic.
• He was now more pragmatic and felt he listened better rather than trying to pursue a pointless avenue.
• He had a better realisation of accepting the actual situation as it is, not what he wanted it to be.

How Barry felt:

• It forced him to evaluate what he was really expecting to get out of the settlement.
• It helped him to realise how he had to be very focused on how to answer and not be drawn into something he did not want to say - how to handle the grey areas.
• He felt generally this was good preparation for court and how to handle the divorce process.

In advance of a national roll-out of the Courtroom Coaching programme early next year to help people prepare emotionally, psychologically and physically for a court appearance the pilot needs a handful more cases.

So do you know anyone who's worried sick about going to court whom we could help (free of charge for the duration of the pilot)?

This is not just for family cases - your friend/family member/acquaintance might be facing an employment tribunal; a civil dispute; or even a crown court jury member.

PS. As coaches we prepare clients for their experience in court and under no circumstances do we rehearse, coach or discuss the evidence or detail of the case.

Kirsten Gronning
The Divorce Coach

Courtroom coaching - FREE help & divorce advice

Providing help with a divorce courtroom appearance

People are increasingly finding us when they are looking for help and support because they are facing a divorce court hearing. They want to improve their performance in court and have the best chance of success.

This is what we hear:

I want help to present myself in an attentive way
I don't want to get annoyed or flippant
I need to separate the emotion from the facts
I need to understand the role of the judge and the barristers
I need to achieve a best possible outcome

How Courtroom coaching can help:

Prepare for the experience;

Understand the court process and the preparation which can be done e.g. in keeping calm;

To instruct lawyers more clearly and calmly;

To focus on how to answer and not be drawn into saying things you don't want to say;

To understand the reality of the situation and the best and worst outcome.

How did it help - quotes from clients in the pilot study in the divorce courts:

It calmed me down..and helped me feel better about my legal case

This telephone conversation (after the court case was over) helps me big-time - it gives me closure and helps me get on with my life.
Julian - West Country

In advance of a national roll-out of the Courtroom Coaching programme early next year to help people prepare emotionally, psychologically and physically for a court appearance the pilot needs a handful more cases. Read more here about the progamme.

So do you know anyone who's worried sick about going to court whom we could help? (FREE of charge for the duration of the pilot.)

This is not just for family cases - your friend/family member/acquaintance might be facing an employment tribunal; another civil dispute; or even a crown court jury member.

PS. As coaches we prepare clients for their experience in court and under no circumstances do we rehearse, coach or discuss the evidence or detail of the case.

Kirsten Gronning
The Divorce Coach

How To Be Best Prepared by Leaving the Emotions at the Court Door

Courtroom Coaching ™ is a brand new service for people who need to attend court and provides clients with techniques which prepare them emotionally, psychologically and physically for a court appearance.

Who do you know who was or is worried sick about going to court? However confident and well prepared people might be, they can still go to pieces in court. With courts being an alien place for most people, it is hardly surprising cases often fall down because of the under performance of the client on the day. Courtroom Coaching ™ addresses the unfulfilled need for support for these people (and others who have to attend court like witnesses and jury members.)

Last week I shadowed Shelagh Goldie, one of the founders of Courtroom Coaching™ and an experienced family and criminal lawyer in the pilot study she has set up to monitor and publish the results and benefits of Courtroom Coaching. As a Law Society Accredited Mediator, as well as an experienced socio-legal researcher and published author, Shelagh was able to really help the clients understand what to focus on during their appearance in court in order to obtain the best possible result.

Here are a couple of their comments I captured:
‘super advice, really really super’
‘I can’t tell you how helpful this is'

The benefits of courtroom coaching are:

* To the individual:
                   Reduced anxiety
                   Increased control
                   More prepared
                   Able to “perform” better on the day
                   Know how to get there and what to expect
                   Opportunity to ask questions

* To the lawyers:
                   Reduced time preparing client
                   Able to focus on the case in hand
                   Reduced cost of preparation of client
                   Considered caring by client by offering this service
                   More confident client will “perform” on the day

* To the courts:
                   Reduced amount of time spent waiting for individuals
                   Parties are more focused on the matter in hand
                   Ability to get through case quicker
                   Parties cope better            

Do you have a case pending? Would you benefit from being supported during the case and maximize your chance of success? If so, we would be delighted to discuss with you how involvement in this free pilot would be of benefit.

Incidentally, this is not just for family cases: as well as other civil cases – work-related disputes, consumer disputes – it can also help people facing appearances in a criminal court, as a party to the hearing or a witness or member of the jury.

This is a limited offer - involvement in the pilot is free for clients and their lawyers.

As someone who has had many personal experiences in court, I know how daunting an experience it is and how proper preparation – not just on the legal front, but on the emotional and practical side – can make a huge difference to the successful outcome of the case and how it impacts on later life.

We prepare clients for their experience in court and we undertake not to discuss the evidence or detail of the case at any time.

Who do you know who needs to attend court in any capacity – as a party to proceedings, a witness or a member of jury? Courtroom Coaching can provide them with techniques which prepare them and maximise their chances of success.

Read more here.