Should I see a lawyer during the divorce mediation process?

Pamela Copeland, a family lawyer in Watchung, answers:

When I am contacted by someone who has agreed with their spouse to use this excellent method of alternative dispute resolution, I prefer to work with them before they even go to the first session. As a mediator myself, I appreciate when clients come in with the necessary information and documents, so I gather everything necessary and put that information into a financial disclosure form used in New Jersey called a case information statement, with supporting documents. I also work with the client to formulate a Game Plan with reasonable objectives based on their individual factual and financial circumstances, with Plans B and C… just in case.