Elissa C. Goldberg, JD

Since 1995, Elissa C. Goldberg has concentrated her legal practice in the area of family law and mediation in Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. Since this time, she has relied upon mediation as the best way to resolve her clients' divorces sooner, with less pain and expense, and in a way that was far better for families and kids.

As a result of her experience with mediation as a family lawyer, Elissa decided to become a family mediator. Even prior to receiving her certification as a family mediator, while in law school, she received training and became skilled mediating landlord/tenant disputes in Philadelphia Municipal Court.

She began her legal practice in Doylestown, Pennsylvania in 1995 after traveling extensively throughout Eastern Europe as an international adoption attorney. The work in international adoption was both rewarding and fulfilling as she was able to unite prospective adoptive families with orphans in Romania, Russia and Moldova.

Upon receiving her mediation certification in June, 2000, Elissa decided to focus her mediation practice on family law issues. In particular, she has dealt with numerous cases involving equitable distribution (property division), custody, child support, alimony pendente lite, and alimony.

Elissa taught legal issues and mediation techniques while an adjunct professor at the PJA School in Upper Darby, PA from January 1996-1999. She also taught inner-city high school students various means to settle disputes without the need for violence.

Education

Temple University Law School, Philadelphia, PA
Juris Doctorate Degree, May, 1994
Graduated with Honors

Mediation Certification, Doylestown, PA
Certification for mediation with specialized training in family law issues (i.e. equitable distribution, child support, custody, alimony), June, 2000

Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, PA
Bachelor of Arts Degree, May, 1991
Graduated Cum Laude
Phi Beta Kappa
Phi Sigma Alpha [Political Science Honor Society]
Phi Alpha Theta [History Honor Society]
Pi Sigma Mu [Social Science Honor Society]
Black Pyramid Senior Honor Society
Dana Scholar

Legal/Mediation Seminars
Parent Coordinator Training, April, 2007
The Nuts and Bolts of Adoption Practice, March, 2007
Immigration Issues in Family Law Practice, December, 2006
It's a Family Affair: Family Law Issues for the Homosexual Client, June, 2006
Bankruptcy/Domestic Relations, March, 2006
Divorce Code Amendments, June, 2005
What Collaborative Law Is, April, 2005
Mediation Pilot Program Midterm Review, September, 2004
Pitfalls of Adoption Practice, May, 2004
Support Practice Update, April, 2004
Real Estate Essentials for the Domestic Attorney, March, 2004
Complex Issues in Divorce for the Pennsylvania Practitioner, March, 2004
Live and Let Die - Rights of the Survivor during Divorce, December, 2003
Adoption Procedure and Practice, June, 2000
Family Law Mediation, May, 2000
Mediation Basic Training, May, 2000
Revisions of the Divorce Code, Evidentiary Issues in Family Law, April, 2000
Cross Examination in Domestic Relations Cases, March, 2000
Orphans' Court Appointments and the Adoption and Safe Families Act, October, 1999
Pennsylvania Standby Guardianship, June, 1999
The Sale of Marital Property, April, 1999
How to Handle Interstate Adoptions, November, 1998
Fundamentals of Family Law, March, 1997
Custody and Support: Issues and Argument, October, 1996
Young Lawyers Division Practicum/Introduction to Family Law/Ethics, December, 1995
Winning Techniques for Family Law Cases, September, 1995