Mediation
Helps families reach agreement with the support of a neutral third party.
Arbitration
Provides a binding decision when agreement isn’t possible.
Mediation-Arbitration (referred to as Med-Arb)
Combines the two: starting with mediation and shifting to arbitration if needed.
Separation and divorce is difficult and draining in many ways: emotionally, legally, and financially.
At JKB Law, I offer mediation and arbitration services as a way to move forward without the stress and expense of court. The Court process is backlogged and often inaccessible. My mediation and arbitration services can be a more cost-effective and timely option for families.
Mediation is a voluntary process. Both parties must agree to participate in mediation. The mediator’s role is to remain neutral and help facilitate a resolution. Mediation is confidential, less adversarial than court, and often more cost-effective.
The process is flexible and tailored to your needs. Sessions can be short and focused or spread out over multiple appointments.
I offer a free 20-minute consultation, which both parties (or their lawyers) must attend by video to discuss the appropriate process for the circumstances.
I OFFER:
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Short (1.5-hour) mediations for discrete issues or to meet the Court’s mandatory alternative dispute resolution requirement
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Half-day mediations
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Full-day mediations
In addition to mediation, you may choose either to do a combined process of mediation-arbitration OR arbitration services. All these processes require that both parties consent to the process.
MEET JKB LAW
My name is Jas (pronounced “jazz” like the music or jazz hands). I have been a lawyer practicing predominantly in family/divorce law since September 2016.
TRAINING & EXPERIENCE
Since 2015: articling and practicing in family/divorce law
2019-2020: conducted mediations for the Alberta Human Rights Commission to facilitate resolution for complaints received
November 2024: completed Legal Education Society of Alberta (LESA) 40-hour Mediation of Family & Divorce Conflicts Program with Rhoda Dobler & Larry Fong
June 2025: completed Family Mediation Canada’s Basic Family Mediation training (40-hour) with Michael Saini
I maintain a high quality of service by continuously advancing my expertise in Family Law, Mediation, and related fields like psychology and communication.
I also streamline and refine my internal processes to ensure your legal journey is as efficient and accessible as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ
Here are some common questions about Mediation/Arbitration.
Mediation is a voluntary process where a neutral third party (the mediator, Jas, if you hire JKB Law) helps people resolve disputes. In family/divorce law, it’s often used to work out parenting time, support, or property division—without going to court.
Mediation can be for any kind of conflict. The issue does not have to be something that you necessarily want/would go to court over, such as helping resolve communication issues or developing strategies to improve your co-parenting relationship.
Mediation is a voluntary process, so you do not need to go to mediation.
However, the Courts are generally requiring that you have attempted some form of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) before you will be granted a hearing. Mediation is a type of ADR and at JKB Law, we offer affordable and limited sessions that will meet these mandatory requirements. Even if you are attending for the purpose of just meeting the pre-requisite.
No, you don’t need a lawyer for mediation. Some people choose to have their lawyer attend mediation with them, but that is optional.
I recommend doing a consultation with a lawyer before your mediation intake so you go into the process with some legal advice specific to your circumstances. I am happy to provide you with referrals/options.
After mediation, you may need independent legal advice (ILA) depending on the circumstances.
No. Even if the Court orders/mandates/requires mediation, the outcomes at mediation are only binding if you both agree. If you choose med-arb or arbitration, then I will have authority to make legally binding decisions for you.
I appreciate that not everyone wants to work with lawyers. It is possible to do this process without a lawyer, depending on the circumstances. There is value to having independent legal advice as part of this process.
Every lawyer has a different style, some are more focused on litigation (court) and others are more focused on resolution. I am happy to provide you with some referrals of lawyers who are focused on resolution, so they can help you towards a binding resolution.
If you do not agree, then you will have to go to Court, unless you have agreed to med-arb or arbitration as the next step.
Yes. A good mediator will be able to manage the circumstances in a way that is best suited to your situation.
For 2026, my promotional rate is $200/hour for mediation and $250/hour for med-arb or arbitration. The total cost will depend on the number of issues, how effective both of you are at negotiating and being flexible, and the complexity of the file. My free 20-minute consultation will help at least provide you with an estimate of potential costs.
My regular lawyer rate is $400/hour. However, as an introductory offer, I’ve set promotional rates for mediation while I build out this new service at JKB Law.
I’ve chosen these lower rates to give people an incentive to try mediation with me, and to make the process more accessible during a time when many are seeking affordable legal alternatives.
That said, the quality of service is not “lower.” I bring a strong background in family law, formal mediation training, and a deep commitment to helping people reach resolution. The lower rates reflect my desire to promote this service—not a compromise on quality.
The virtual rate is lower because the costs associated with in-person mediation are higher. In-person mediations may involve:
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Renting or maintaining a boardroom space
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Travel time and transportation costs
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Scheduling and coordination logistics
By contrast, virtual mediations are more efficient to coordinate, and I want to encourage this option because it’s often more convenient and accessible—especially for people in different locations or with limited mobility or childcare options.
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Yes. Mediation is private and confidential. What’s said in mediation stays in mediation, and cannot be used in court. Mediation is an opportunity to speak freely and try to resolve your issues.
Each mediation process is going to be different, as I tailor it to your circumstances.
It depends. Some people resolve a single issue in an hour. Others need multiple sessions for more complex parenting or financial matters. We will tailor the process to your needs and budget considerations. Even if you just limit the amount of issues, that will be a productive before going to Court. We can also space out sessions across a few months if that works better to your budget/circumstances.
Almost always, yes. Court processes can take months (or years). Mediation can be booked much sooner and moves at your pace, not the court’s schedule.
Trauma-informed is one of the latest “buzz” words that people often throw around without really knowing what it means. To me, trauma-informed means understanding that people respond differently in trauma situations. For example, it is common for trauma to lead to people over-explaining themselves because they are used to not being understood.
I do not favour any side. My priority is to assist you with a cost-effective resolution that works for both of you. I represent women, men, non-binary individuals, and do not have any preference for gender or sexual orientation. People are very different regardless of their gender or sexual orientation, so it does not make sense to favour one side or another side. My clients are diverse and I find that mediation works best if that diversity is respected.
Not usually, but this is something that I am willing to consider if both parents agree and it makes sense in the circumstances given the issues and ages of the children. We can discuss this as part of the process.
Mediation is not regulated in Alberta, so legally anyone can call themselves a mediator. You want to have someone who is experienced, knowledgeable, and going to guide you in a way that is sustainable. If you reach an agreement that is not supported by the law, then you are back to beginning potentially, so the benefit of a lawyer mediator is that I am knowledgeable about the law and can guide you accordingly.
Every mediator has a different style, and sometimes having these conversations is useful to reach a resolution. However, in general, my approach is to work towards solutions, so I will make suggestions to change the mediation process as necessary to work towards that. For example, maybe the mediation needs to be done in separate rooms (virtually this just means using “breakout” features so that both of you are not speaking with each other directly).
Arbitration is when you appoint someone to make a decision for you, similar to a judge, but it’s private. At this time, JKB Law does not offer mediation services.
Mediation helps facilitate a resolution, but arbitration is when the arbitrator makes the final decision. Mediation-arbitration is when you do both at the same time. Some people prefer this because you get a final outcome, but others do not because you cannot speak as freely since the mediator is also your arbitrator.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge that JKB Law is located in the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina Nation, the Iyarhe Nakoda Nations (including the Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Goodstoney First Nations) , the Otipemisiwak Métis Government of the Métis Nation within Alberta District 6. We further recognize that land acknowledgments are only one step in the process of reconciliation, and we are committed to ongoing reflection, work, and improvement in our decolonizing work.