Diana Mercer, JD'88
"Sometimes you find the best things in life in the most unlikely of places," said Diana Mercer, JD'88. For the Indianapolis native, opportunity knocked in the guise of a "millennial" resolution. On Jan. 1, 2000, Mercer founded Peace Talks Mediation Services, Inc. and opened the door to a new career.
Peace Talks "teams lawyers and therapists as mediators to help couples resolve divorce and custody issues in a sane, sensible, and fair way at a reasonable cost."
The former divorce lawyer—who is admitted to practice law in California, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and before the U.S. Supreme Court—brought her impressive skill set and sense of purpose to Indiana Law students as a fall 2006 practitioner in residence. She spent time with students in mediation and family law classes. She urged them to look for the right "fit" when choosing an area of focus, which is ultimately the key to success.
"It's not just a job, so don't be afraid to switch gears," Mercer said. "Opportunity comes when you open yourself up to the possibilities." Her career change has also led the lifelong learner to gain experience and skills in areas such as business, taxes, real estate, and finance.
Working as a divorce lawyer for 12 years wasn't the perfect fit for Mercer because, as she explained, "the court is a one-note solution to a symphony of problems." What became increasingly evident during those years was the fact that the emotional aspects of divorce weren't being addressed in the litigation process. "Clients would beg me to do things that the gladiator lawyer wants to do, but is not ultimately in the client's best interest," she said. "The client is not thinking rationally, strategically, or long-term."
Co-author of Your Divorce Advisor: A Lawyer and a Psychologist Guide You Through the Legal and Emotional Landscape of Divorce (Fireside, 2001), Mercer now assists families in resolving disputes in a constructive, informed, and proactive manner. "Mediation works better for the couples and their children," she said. "We try to provide peace of mind during a very difficult time in their lives."
In June 2006, Count Me In for Women's Economic Independence honored Mercer with the Make Mine a $Million Award, a program that provides funds, mentoring, and marketing tools to help female entrepreneurs grow their businesses to a $1 million and beyond. In coming years, she looks to expand the business by opening locations around the greater Los Angeles area and license a franchise—with possible locations in Indianapolis or Bloomington.
"I was really enthused with the quality of mediation I saw in the students from Professor Amy Applegate's class, as well as the interest expressed by local attorneys and Law School students," she said.
Currently, Mercer and her company are shooting a pilot project for a new reality television series titled "Divorce Story," set to debut on CourtTV in January. The series follows people who are getting divorced through the mediation process. "My biggest wish is that people watch the show and realize what a great option mediation is for handling a divorce or custody matter," she said on her blog. "I hope that I can be a part of promoting mediation on the first nationally-televised show about divorce mediation."