
Hon. Irwin Joseph, (retired)
Mediator, Private Judge
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Assisting in Attorney Represented Cases Only
SClara/SCruz/ SMateo County, CA
USA
831.588.6771
Description of Practice
Starting in 1992, after a lengthy training in mediation, I realized that there was a positive, valuable alternative to traditional litigation. I began mediating cases with regularity and with terrific results. Litigants were able to resolve their differences effectively and efficiently without going to court.
After closing my private practice, I took the bench in January, 2001 as a Superior Court Commissioner in Santa Cruz County. I presided over, Unlimited Civil Court (1.5 years), Family Court (4 years), Juvenile Delinquency Court (1 year), and Misdemeanor Criminal Court (3.25 years).
In 2011, after a short hiatus from the Court, I began serving as All Purpose Judge in Santa Clara County Superior Court Family Court, an assignment I enjoyed for over four years. I retired from the Santa Clara Bench in February, 2016 after almost five years.
Since 2016, I mediate privately and serve as a private Judge by Stipulation in the Bay Area. I travel to the South Bay every month and conduct limited hearings via Zoom in between trips north. Since 2019, I only agree to engagement in represented cases. Too often, self-represented parties ask questions, the answers for which require giving legal advice, thereby compromising my neutrality. Now mediating, arbitrating and serving as private judge online (www.MediateYourDisputeOnline.com).
Professional Background
In addition, I served on Faculty for the California Center for Judicial Education and Research (CJER) at the AOC, Faculty for National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) Domestic Violence Training, and The Elkins Family Law Task Force.
I currently serve as Adjunct Faculty at the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University School of Law. There, I teach judges, court personnel and attorneys about Mediation in Dissolution and Parentage cases. The training I co-created has been given thirteen times in California, Vermont and Maryland.
In October, 2015, I co-taught seventeen Judges and Attorneys in Singapore as part of a six-day (32 hour) Pepperdine/Straus training entitled "Mediating the Litigated Case."
Since 1992, I have mediated thousands of disputes with a very high rate of success.
Since 2001, I have presided over the trials and hearings in thousands of cases.
Experience
Degrees
Training
Dates | Trainer(s) | Title |
1995 | UCSC Extension | Basic 40 Hours Training |
2006 | J. Melamed, N. Meierling | Straus/Pepperdine--Family Law (18 hours) |
2009-2019 | I. Joseph/ D. Saposnek | Straus/Pepperdine--Family Law (18 hours). Malibu, Vermont Law School, Baltimore, Nashville. |
2011, 2013 | I. Joseph/ D. Saposnek | Straus/Pepperdine--Family Law (13 hours-2sessions) |
2015 | I. Joseph/ P.Robinson | Straus/Pepperdine/Singapore: Mediating the LItigated Case (32 hours) |
2016, 2018 | I.Joseph/D. Saposnek | Straus/Pepperdine/Singapore: Family Law Mediation (18 hrs) |
2018-2019 | I. Joseph | California DCSS Attorneys and Staff, Santa Clara San Mateo DCSS Attorneys and Staff (3 hours each) |
2020 | I. Joseph | Online Advanced Mediation Training (2 sessions @ 4 hrs each) |
Approach
Fees
- $485 per hour (4 hour minimum).
- No charge for travel time.
- No charge for time spent scheduling.
- No charge for file setup.
- No administrative fees.
- Preparation time at normal hourly rate
Other Information
Areas of Practice
- Boundary Disputes
- Business
- Civil (general)
- Divorce (all issues)
- Divorce (parenting)
- Land Use
- Personal Injury
- Probate
- Real Estate
- Sexual Harrassment
Professional Services
- Mediator
- Mediation Consultant
- Mediator-Arbitrator
- Mediation Trainer
- Arbitrator
- Facilitator
- Mediating Lawyer
- Advanced Mediation Trainer
- Online Mediator
- Online Arbitrator