Judge Lawrence Army is a distinguished legal professional with nearly three decades of experience in family and probate law. He earned his BA in communications from Seton Hall University (dean’s list), where he received a Student Leadership Award and joined the Communications Honor Society. Judge Lawrence Army went on to earn his JD, cum laude, from Suffolk University Law School. He also earned additional honors, including the CALI Award for Excellence in Trial Practice and participation on the Moot Court Board. These early achievements laid the groundwork for a career defined by strong advocacy and trial success.
Admitted to the Massachusetts State Bar in 1996, Judge Army began his legal career as a partner at ARMY & ARMY, LLC. There, he developed a broad practice spanning family law, criminal defense, and real estate, completing over 500 real estate transactions and representing indigent defendants. He later expanded and led ARMY & ROCHE, LLC, where he built a respected family law practice, successfully argued appeals at the Massachusetts Appeals Court, and earned recognition as a leading practitioner in interstate custody and removal cases. He earned the Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rating for legal ability and ethical standards.
From 2021 to 2025, Judge Army served as an associate justice in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Probate and Family Court, presiding over more than a thousand cases and authoring decisions that contributed to legal precedent. Today, he leads Concili8, LLC, as principal mediator and arbitrator. In this position, he facilitates settlements of high-stakes family law and probate disputes.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
My days vary depending on whether I’m in session or preparing for one, but I’ve built a rhythm that keeps me sharp and present for the work I do.
I start early—usually with quiet time before the phone starts ringing. That’s when I review case files, revisit notes from previous sessions, and think through the dynamics I’ll be navigating. Mediation requires me to walk into a room (or a Zoom) fully prepared, so I protect that morning block for focused prep.
Most of my active hours are spent in mediation sessions or consultations. These can run anywhere from a couple of hours to a full day, depending on the complexity of the dispute. Between sessions, I handle follow-up—drafting settlement summaries, coordinating with attorneys, and scheduling.
What makes my day productive isn’t cramming more in—it’s staying mentally clear. Mediation is about reading people, managing tension, and finding common ground. I can’t do that well if I’m scattered. So, I’m intentional about limiting distractions during sessions and carving out time to decompress afterward. A short walk, a few minutes of silence—whatever resets me before the next conversation.
The work is unpredictable by nature, but the structure around it doesn’t have to be.
How do you bring ideas to life?
In my work, ideas don’t stay abstract for long—they have to solve real problems for real people.
It usually starts with listening. When I’m working with parties in conflict, I’m picking up on what matters most to each side, what’s been tried before, and where there might be room to move. The ideas that lead to resolution often come from those details—something someone says that opens a door neither party saw.
From there, I test and refine. I’ll float a concept, gauge reactions, adjust. Mediation is collaborative by design, so bringing an idea to life means building it with the people in the room, not handing them a finished product. The best outcomes feel like their solution, not mine.
Outside of sessions, I take the same approach with my practice. If I see a gap—maybe a type of dispute I’m seeing more often, or a way to make the process less intimidating for first-timers—I’ll sketch out how to address it, talk to colleagues or clients, and pilot something small before committing fully.
Ideas come to life through action and iteration. I’d rather try something imperfect and learn from it than wait for the perfect plan.
What’s one trend that excites you?
The growing acceptance of mediation as a first choice, not a last resort.
For a long time, mediation was seen as something you tried after litigation got too expensive or too exhausting. Now I’m seeing a shift—more people are coming to the table early, before positions harden and relationships deteriorate beyond repair. Courts are encouraging it, businesses are building it into contracts, and individuals are realizing they don’t have to hand their conflict over to a system that wasn’t designed with their interests in mind.
What excites me most is what this means for outcomes. When people engage in mediation before the adversarial mindset takes hold, there’s more room for creativity, more willingness to listen, and a much better chance of reaching agreements that actually stick. The conflict gets resolved instead of just decided.
I’m also encouraged by how technology is expanding access. Virtual mediation has made it easier for people to participate without the barriers of travel, time off work, or geographic distance. That opens doors for folks who might never have considered mediation before.
The trend toward resolving conflict thoughtfully, early, and collaboratively—that’s the direction I want to see this field keep moving.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Preparation before every session—no exceptions.
It sounds simple, but it’s the habit that makes everything else work. Before I walk into any mediation, I set aside time to review the case, anticipate sticking points, and think through how each party might be feeling. I ask myself: what does each side really need? Where might common ground exist that they haven’t seen yet?
This isn’t just about knowing the facts. It’s about showing up ready to be fully present. When I’ve done the prep work, I’m not scrambling to catch up during the conversation—I can focus entirely on listening, reading the room, and guiding the process.
The habit also forces me to slow down. It would be easy to stack sessions back-to-back and rush from one conflict to the next. But that’s a recipe for burnout and mediocre work. Protecting that prep time is how I protect the quality of what I do.
One habit, consistently applied, compounds over time. For me, it’s preparation.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Don’t rush to have all the answers—focus on listening first.
When I was younger, I thought being effective meant being quick to solve problems. Over time, I learned that real progress often comes from slowing down, creating space, and letting people feel heard before trying to fix anything. In mediation, that shift in mindset changes everything—people don’t just want solutions; they want understanding.
I’d also tell myself not to shy away from difficult conversations. Discomfort is often where growth lives—both personally and professionally. The more you lean into those moments with empathy and curiosity, the more trust and resolution you build.
And finally: stay patient. Skills, reputation, and confidence all compound with time. Every experience, even the messy ones, becomes part of what makes you credible in helping others navigate conflict.
Tell us something you believe that almost nobody agrees with you on.
I believe conflict isn’t inherently bad—it’s information.
Most people view conflict as something to avoid, something destructive or uncomfortable. I see it as a signal that something important isn’t being said or understood. If handled well, conflict can be one of the most honest and productive conversations people ever have. It exposes values, needs, and boundaries that otherwise stay buried.
Of course, not everyone agrees with that view—many people just want the tension gone. But I’ve seen again and again that when conflict is approached with curiosity instead of fear, it becomes a turning point instead of a breaking point.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Pause before reacting.
It’s a small habit with enormous impact—personally and professionally. In mediation, that pause is everything. It’s the difference between responding with intention or reacting from emotion. When you take even a few seconds to breathe, observe, and choose your words, you change the tone of the entire conversation.
I use that same principle outside of work too. Emails, meetings, everyday interactions—it’s amazing how much clarity you gain when you stop to think before you move. The pause doesn’t slow you down; it keeps you from wasting time undoing something said in haste.
It’s simple, but it’s powerful. Most problems get worse when we rush. They often get better when we pause.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
I step away from the noise.
When I start feeling scattered, it’s usually a sign that I’ve been absorbing too much—too many voices, too many details, too many decisions. So, I do the opposite of pushing through: I pause. Sometimes that means a quick walk outside, sometimes it’s a few minutes of quiet without a phone or screen.
In mediation, clarity is everything. If I’m not centered, I can’t create calm for anyone else. Stepping back helps me reset perspective so I can come back grounded and ready to listen again. I’ve learned that slowing down is often the fastest way to get back on track.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Knowing when not to take a case.
Early in my career, I thought saying yes to every opportunity was the way to grow. Over time, I learned that real professionalism means recognizing when I’m not the right fit. If I sense that I can’t genuinely help the parties move forward—whether because of the dynamics, timing, or scope—I’ll say so and refer them elsewhere.
That honesty builds far more trust than trying to force a fit. Clients appreciate candor, and colleagues respect it. It’s also what keeps my work effective and my reputation strong. Mediation works best when the mediator is the right person for the job—and being selective ensures that when I do take a case, I can give it my full skill, focus, and integrity.
In short, growth came not from doing more, but from doing what I can do well.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
When I was a young lawyer, I believed that being effective meant fighting every battle hard. I took on a case early in my career where I pushed the client’s position aggressively, determined to “win.” I did win the case—but it didn’t feel like a victory. The client relationship deteriorated, and the outcome left lasting resentment between the parties.
That experience taught me something I couldn’t see at the time: not every legal success is a human success. I had helped resolve a legal dispute but deepened a personal divide. It was a humbling moment that shaped the way I approached advocacy from then on.
Over time, I learned that real resolution comes from understanding, not just argument. That insight ultimately guided me to the bench—and later to create Concili8Now. The lesson has stayed with me: true success in this field isn’t measured by the number of cases won, but by the number of conflicts genuinely resolved.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
For me, it’s less about specialized legal tools and more about simplicity. I rely heavily on calendar and task management software to structure my days. Mediation requires deep focus, so I block time for case preparation, reflection, and follow up—each with clear boundaries.
I also use notes and document organization apps to capture key insights immediately after a session while details are fresh. That small habit saves hours later and keeps every case moving smoothly.
The right software doesn’t need to be complicated—it just needs to keep me organized enough to be fully present with the people in front of me.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
I bought a high quality notebook and pen set—not flashy, just solid and comfortable to use.
In mediation and conciliation, I spend a lot of time listening, and there’s something powerful about taking notes by hand. It slows my thinking just enough to stay fully present, and it helps me capture not just what people say, but how they say it. Those nuances often matter more than the words themselves.
That small investment reminds me that sometimes the simplest tools are the most valuable. Technology is great, but pen and paper still keep me grounded in the moment.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
“The Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz has had a lasting impact on both my personal outlook and professional approach. The principles—be impeccable with your word, don’t take things personally, don’t make assumptions, and always do your best—align perfectly with the mindset needed in mediation.
Those agreements remind me daily that clarity, empathy, and humility are what move people toward resolution. In a field where emotions can run high and misunderstandings are common, this book grounds me in what truly matters: honesty, perspective, and presence.
It’s a simple read, but its wisdom shows up in almost every conversation I have.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
Really enjoyed “The Night Manager” on Prime Video based on the John le Carré novel. I’ve always been drawn to well crafted spy stories—the mix of strategy, observation, and reading between the lines.
What I liked most about “The Night Manager” was how much of the tension comes from subtle communication—what’s said, what’s withheld, and what can be inferred. In many ways, it mirrors the dynamics I see in mediation: human motives, trust, and the delicate balance between truth and perception.
Beyond the suspense, it’s just smart storytelling—complex characters navigating high stakes with calm precision.
Key learnings
- Genuine success in law and mediation comes from integrity—knowing one’s limits, keeping promises, and prioritizing solutions over winning.
- Conflict isn’t inherently negative; when approached with curiosity and structure, it becomes an opportunity for clarity, understanding, and growth.
- True productivity stems from preparation, focus, and intentional pauses rather than relentless activity.
- Building a reputation on trust—by delivering consistent results and turning down matters outside one’s expertise—creates lasting professional credibility.
- Meaningful businesses grow from passion and purpose; aligning work with core values sustains both motivation and authenticity.