Family Law
Collaborative Law
Mediation
Virginia, 2001
Chief Justice Harry L. Carrico, Pro Bono Award
George Mason University School of Law
Arlington, Virginia
J.D. 2001
California State University
Long Beach, California
B.S. cum laude 1991
Major: Business, concentration in Finance
Mediation for the Professional
Center for Dispute Settlement, Washington, DC
Collaborative Divorce Training
CollaborativePractice Training Institute (CPTI)
Interest-Based Negotiation & Mediation Skills Training
CollaborativePractice Training Institute (CPTI)
Virginia State Bar (Family Law Section)
Virginia Women Attorneys Association
Loudoun County Bar
Virginia Collaborative Professionals
International Association of Collaborative Professionals
Collaborative Professionals of Northern Virginia
Pro Bono Attorney, Legal Services of Northern Virginia
Vice President, My Child & Me (non-profit organization)
Member, The Community Church, Ashburn, Virginia
Ms. Durst believes a court room is not the appropriate place for families to resolve relational issues. She has seen many families damaged by the adversarial nature of divorce. For example, in a contested child custody case, both parents share the burden of proving to the court that it is in the children’s best interest to be in his or her custody. This sets up an adversarial mindset in a parent to prove he or she is the better parent. Choosing a non-adversarial approach regarding child custody matters puts the focus on the children and is more likely to produce better results for the family as a whole.
Ms. Durst believes a court room is not the appropriate place for families to resolve relational issues. She has seen many families damaged by the adversarial nature of divorce. For example, in a contested child custody case, both parents share the burden of proving to the court that it is in the children’s best interest to be in his or her custody. This sets up an adversarial mindset in a parent to prove he or she is the better parent. Choosing a non-adversarial approach regarding child custody matters puts the focus on the children and is more likely to produce better results for the family as a whole.
Family Law
Collaborative Law
Mediation
Virginia, 2001
Chief Justice Harry L. Carrico, Pro Bono Award
George Mason University School of Law
Arlington, Virginia
J.D. 2001
California State University
Long Beach, California
B.S. cum laude 1991
Major: Business, concentration in Finance
Mediation for the Professional
Center for Dispute Settlement, Washington, DC
Collaborative Divorce Training
CollaborativePractice Training Institute (CPTI)
Interest-Based Negotiation & Mediation Skills Training
CollaborativePractice Training Institute (CPTI)
Virginia State Bar (Family Law Section)
Virginia Women Attorneys Association
Loudoun County Bar
Virginia Collaborative Professionals
International Association of Collaborative Professionals
Collaborative Professionals of Northern Virginia
Pro Bono Attorney, Legal Services of Northern Virginia
Vice President, My Child & Me (non-profit organization)
Member, The Community Church, Ashburn, Virginia