J. Pica Mediation, LLC

09/01/2022

LISTEN UP - Honored to be a Special Guest on the Men's Divorce Recovery Podcast! I will offer a very unique perspective of a child who experienced three divorces and the impact on young boys through my dual lens of mental health and legal perspectives. I will elaborate on how dads can support their young boy’s mental health when impacted by divorce. We speak nothing but the truth! 📣💥

Mens Divorce Recovery exists to empower divorced men through support, knowledge, and encouragement to survive and thrive beyond divorce and become resilient, strong, and wise.

08/17/2022

Today, in my position on the Steering Committee for the Chicago Bar Association’s blog, I will interview Erika Harold, the Executive Director of the Illinois Commission on Professionalism. The Commission on Professionalism is charged by Illinois Supreme Court with promoting among both lawyers and judges in Illinois greater integrity, professionalism, and civility; to foster a commitment to the elimination of bias and divisiveness within the legal and judicial systems; and to ensure those systems provide equitable, efficient and effective service to the citizens of Illinois. Erika also happens to be a former Miss Illinois and Miss America.

Look out for the forthcoming article!

08/04/2022

Been a pleasure to serve on the planning committee for Association of Family & Conciliation Courts (AFCC) Illinois Chapter annual conference being held this October in Chicago, with a reception to follow: "Families Under Stress: Mental Health Risks in Children - How Can We Help?". Very thankful for my former professor, Dr. Maryse Richards, for answering my call to serve and educate. Please join us if you’re able!

07/12/2022

Such an extremely successful day in court that my client wanted a picture with me at the courthouse! The best part of this job is watching clients experience their breakthroughs. Today was that day!

06/29/2022

Absolutely thrilled to share that I was selected for an American Bar Association Section of Family Law Fellowship! A two-year commitment with goals of increasing diversity of family lawyers with diverse backgrounds, the fellowship requires me to contribute to the Family Law Section in a way that is meaningful to my practice as well as to provide access to justice for traditionally underserved communities. I will attend my first ABA conference as a fellow this October in San Diego, and I look forward to sharing my story and more importantly my practice efforts on a national level with the American Bar Association. Years ago, a divorce attorney rudely told me that as a Black man, I had to be the best at practicing divorce and family law attorney because I would be remembered only because I am Black. Little did I know at the time, there are very few Black divorce attorneys in Chicago, particularly Black men. With this fellowship, I vow to keep my promise of ensuring more parents and children are represented by lawyers who look like them. ✊🏾

And…this gives me another opportunity to post what I think is a great picture of me. 🙌🏾🤣

04/26/2022

HERE IT IS❗️As a Steering Committee Member of The Chicago Bar Association’s blog, I am publishing a three part series on the discrepancies of race and income in family courts, particularly focused on the Black father experience. In combination of my work experiences and private, confidential interviews with sitting judges in Chicago, I start by illustrating the various roles government has played on policing Black parenthood. Please read and provide feedback, and to entice you, here is a bold statement from Part I in response to some judges saying, “deadbeat dad” - “For satirical yet reflective relief, perhaps it can be argued that the first “deadbeat dad” was the White male slave master who forced enslaved Black women to care for his child?” ✊🏾✊🏿✊🏽

Article Authored By: Jason Pica Stated broadly, the family court system is a “pay-to-play” civil court system where litigants have no right to an attorney, even if faced with civil contempt proceed…

04/22/2022

"Be strategic in your approach" - a litigation tip drilled into me by mentors. Proud to author monthly articles for The Chicago Bar Association and equally proud to fight for survivors of domestic violence.

https://cbaatthebar.chicagobar.org/2022/04/22/using-the-uccjea-to-protect-victims-of-domestic-violence/?fbclid=IwAR04ysKd70ZxRYH_asUvNWLhn7SxskRilY_cl3QIt4TeH5H8gqLk2hPC3hs

Article Authored By: Jason Pica Survivors of domestic violence may flee the State of Illinois with the child to protect him or herself and the child. However, according to the relocation statute of…

04/14/2022

Still smiling from this genuine note I received today and this goes out to all my Black mothers:

“May I say, “Bravo.” I couldn’t believe I actually have someone defending myself, everything I try to stand for in a wonderfully completed statement, and I couldn’t be happier. Thank you so much for everything. You’re a great lawyer. May I ask how I can become a lawyer? I am willing to pay for schooling. I want to be great too.”

For someone to desire to be great because of you is an absolute honor.

03/24/2022

Cannot count the number of times clients have exhaustingly explained what it meant to have a Black attorney, someone who understands them with no need for explanation. What a gift to be in my position! ✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽✊🏼

02/20/2022

Nine days later, I had no idea this was published until this morning. I am now a Steering Committee Member for The Chicago Bar Association's Blog. Beginning next month, I will publish a monthly article related to divorce and family law, starting with a very candid, thorough, and authentic series on the inequities of race and income in family court. Until then, here’s another short read.

Article Authored By: Jason Pica We built a mediation model specifically for families of color with an emphasis on participatory, interdisciplinary psycho-educational methods, coupled with preventat…

12/31/2021

Ready to very soon! Thank you all for your genuine support. Blessings to you in 2022 🙌🏾

12/23/2021

COMING JANUARY 2022! - While I remain practicing at a private law firm and Vice President of a local non-profit law firm, as one of few Black divorce and family law attorneys in Chicago, it is crucial for me to provide accessible and cost-effective mediation services to my community. Far too often do I witness courtrooms filled primarily of low-income African Americans and other parents of color litigating a parentage and custody dispute while spending their last on attorneys or not receiving competent and caring services due to lack of financial resources. The truth is the system does not compassionately consider the many layers of cultural diversity in families. Combining my clinical social work background of providing psychotheraputic services to disadvantaged children and teens with my focus in divorce and family law, this mediation practice will focus on families of color and unmarried parents of color in parentage disputes. We will charged based on the combined gross income of both parents.

Yes, this is a business, but my story makes this personal. I built a mediation model specifically for families of color with an emphasis on participatory, interdisciplinary, psycho-educational methods, coupled with preventative law theories. I am ready to trust God and start assisting families in a different way.

I profusely appreciate your support! Check out the website & like the page.

We built a mediation model specifically for families of color. As one of few Black divorce and family law attorneys in Chicago, it is crucial for me to provide accessible services to my community. We provide income based, flat-fee mediation services to craft thoughtful agreements for your family.