Collaborative Family Law Affiliates; Training in Collaborative Law

2003

Divorce Arbitration Institute; American Bar Association

1996

National Center for Mediation Education; Divorce Mediation

1996

Advanced Family Mediation Workshop; Advanced Mediator Training

2001

Microfocus On Transformative Process And Practice;
                                       Advance Mediator Training

2002

Mediation in the New Millennium

2003

Domestic Violence Training

2004

Widener University School of Law
J.D.; cum laude

1991

University of Santa Clara
Graduate courses; Learning Handicapped

1980

Kutztown University
B.S. Elementary Education; magna cum laude

1970

1999-Present

LAW OFFICES OF MARIBETH BLESSING, L.L.C.
Practitioner and Litigator experienced in all aspects of Family Law. Firm practice primarily concentrated in Family Law with additional areas of practice in Wills, Personal Injury, Contracts, Torts, Employment and Real Estate Law.
Pennsylvania Bar Activities- Family Law Section and Council Member, Rules Committee Co-Chair, Liaison to PBA Children’s Rights Committee, PBA Legal Ethics & Professional Responsibility Committee, PBA/PBI Continuing Legal Education Instructor and Author.
Montgomery Bar Activities -MBA Judicial Committee, Trial Lawyers Section, 2002 Chair of Family Law Section, active member as well as former chair of sub-committees as follows: Mediation Committee, Practicum Committee, Equitable Distribution Committee, Custody Committee and Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee; former Chair of Member Services Committee; Member, MBA Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee; Youth and Law Committee; Chair- Continuing Legal Education Committee; MBA Instructor and Author-Continuing Legal Education.
Other - Collaborative Law Affiliates; Counselor, Executive Committee & Past President-Donas Jonas Freed Inn of Court Executive Board; National Business Institute Instructor/Author; Strathmore’s Who’s Who Recipient, 2004-2005; 2002 Recipient and Life Member of the National Registry of Who’s Who; Widener University School of Law Outstanding Service Award.

1999-Present

MARIBETH BLESSING, MEDIATION & ARBITRATION, L.L.C. Member, Academy of Family Mediators, Practitioner, 1996-2001;
Member, Association For Conflict Resolution and Advanced Practitioner, 2001-present; Member, Pennsylvania Council of Mediators, 2004-present; Member, Montgomery County Horace Davenport Mediation Center, 2001-present
Experienced Arbitrator and Mediator, practicing in all aspects of family issues, peer mediation, neighborhood disputes, contract disputes, and labor disputes. Chair of the Advisory Panel for the Montgomery County Custody Mediation Orientation Program as well as Supervisory Mediator. Lecturer and Author for Continued Mediation Education programs.

1996-1999

LAW OFFICES OF LESLEE SILVERMAN TABAS, Partner
Experienced Family Law Practitioner with growing practice of complex divorce, custody, property, support, abuse, and adoption cases. Active member, Instructor and Writer for PBA and Montgomery County Bar CLE programs. Court appointed Guardian Ad Litem, Arbitrator and Special Master.

1996-1999

CENTER FOR MATRIMONIAL DISPUTE RESOLUTIONS, INCORPORATED, Executive Director
Member, Association for Conflict Resolution
Experienced Arbitrator and Mediator offering alternative methods of managing negotiations, settlements and resolutions of matrimonial disputes. Creatively devised mechanisms most suitable to needs of parties and counsel. Neutrally adjudicated arbitration cases in expeditious manner, preserving privacy issues and minimizing litigation and costs. Mediated and facilitated amicable agreements with expediency and sensitivity to the needs of the participating parties. Practice included both Bench and Bar referral of cases.

1994-1998

PENN STATE UNIVERSITY, Instructor, CED Division
Taught evening classes for the paralegal including certification courses for Domestic Relations, Introduction to Basic Legal Principles, Legal Research, and Civil Practice and Procedure.

1992-1996

GOLD-BIKIN, CLIFFORD, & YOUNG, Attorney
Exclusively serviced Senior Partner's high end clients and prepared extremely complex divorce, custody, support, property, abuse, and adoption cases for litigation. Developed own caseload for expanding Domestic Relations practice. Participated in Pro Bono work for Legal Aid, and County Arbitration Panels.

1985-1992

BUCKS AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY DOMESTIC RELATIONS;
Hearing Officer & Investigator
Conference, arbitrate, and mediate support disputes. Adjudicate, execute and enforce support orders. Investigate and process bench warrants. Reported to the Court with written recommendations, and presented cases at trial.

1970-1985

Teacher
OUR LADY OF MT. CARMEL, Doylestown, PA
ST. PHILIP NERI, East Greenville, PA
IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY, Cuyahoga Falls, OH
ST. WILLIAMS ELEMENTARY, Los Altos, CA
THE CURIOSITY SHOPPE, Doylestown, PA
TIK TOK KINDERGARTEN, Killeen, TX
CHINOOK ELEMENTARY, Anchorage, AK
Experienced in open-structured and self-contained classroom environments, team teaching and departmentalization with experience at every grade level from K-8. Effectively utilized large and small group instruction in a multi-media approach.