New Bar program helps resolve disputes between lawyers

In front of a judge, polemical power is an asset for a lawyer. But when personal disputes arise between lawyers, with personalities and training geared toward winning arguments, it can get ugly in a hurry.

To address this, a group of Missouri Bar members and judges created a Lawyer-to-Lawyer Dispute Resolution Program sanctioned by the Board of Governors of The Missouri Bar.

There are two types of disputes that come up between attorneys, said Chief Judge Gary W. Lynch of the Missouri Court of Appeals, chairman of the new committee. The economic type occurs when a business relationship between attorneys goes sour, and a professional dispute occurs when two or more attorneys have developed a professional relationship without the level of courtesy and respect that they want from each other.

“We have for several years lamented the loss of civility among lawyers,” Lynch said. “It occurs in many professions, but more so in the legal profession because we are adversaries. We have talked about it, but no one has found a way to really solve the issue. This program offers the profession an opportunity to really work at it.”
The voluntary program relies on a panel of trained attorneys from across Missouri who act as third-party mediators between attorneys. Lynch said they received an overwhelming amount of applications from attorneys who wanted to be involved with the committee. The mediators come from different geographic regions than the disputing parties to avoid conflicts.

The initiative allows lawyers to resolve problems in a personal dispute program with which they are familiar. Another benefit is freeing an already over-burdened court system from resolving the personal disputes that sideline attorneys.
“When I’m an attorney on a case, and I can focus on the legal issues and factual issues and not focus on side personal issues, I can serve my clients better,” Lynch said.