A successful courtroom lawyer for many years, Jill is now a senior collaborative lawyer and mediator, handling separation and divorce cases, marriage contracts and cohabitation agreements. Most family law cases can be efficiently settled out of Court, and choosing a non-adversarial process is the first step toward incorporating what’s important to you in your final agreement.

The two big issues in a family law case are usually children and money. Most people don’t want a stranger (such as a Judge or arbitrator) making these decisions for them. Non-adversarial processes such as collaborative law, or family mediation, give you a broader voice in the outcome, are private rather than public in nature, and insulate children from prolonged parental conflict and stress. 

Being able to communicate with your spouse is essential to reaching an agreement that works for you.  A lawyer can make all the difference in facilitating this communication. Jill works to minimize conflict and establish an environment in which her client’s interests are advanced.    Jill’s reputation for honesty, integrity and practicality supports a productive and cooperative negotiation climate from the outset.

Where appropriate, Jill welcomes the involvement of a neutral family professional or financial professional in her cases. A social worker can help with emotional issues and work with you and your spouse to develop a parenting plan for the children. A financial neutral can gather and analyze complex financial information in a cost-effective and fair manner, and contribute to option development and evaluation.

Jill’s first degree was in social work, and she worked with adolescents in conflict with their families and the law.  In 1981, she was called to the Bar of Ontario and began her family law practice. She is a trained mediator and has mediated cases for the Ministry of the Attorney General in the Ontario Mandatory Mediation Program. She also has experience in health care, disability management, and elder care disputes.  Jill obtained a Master of Laws in Alternative Dispute Resolution from Osgoode Hall Law School in 2002.

Jill is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, Collaborative Practice Toronto (former Co-Chair), the Toronto Lawyer’s Association, and the Alternative Dispute Resolution Institute of Ontario. 

For more information, review Jill’s website at www.jillmcleod.ca. You may also call her at no obligation to discuss your situation and how she can help you.