I think of Collaborative Practice as holistic divorce.  It acknowledges that divorce is not just a legal process, but an emotional, financial, and spiritual adjustment as well.  CP uses interest-based negotiation as a way for families to resolve disputes respectfully - without going to court. 

Developed by Minnesota lawyer Stu Webb in 1989, the heart of Collaborative Practice, or Collaborative Divorce,  is to offer you and your spouse or partner (yes, I work with unmarried parents as well as partners in the GLBT community that are choosing to separate) the support, protection, and guidance of your own lawyers without going to court.  Additionally, Collaborative Divorce allows you the benefit of Child Specialists, Mental Heath  Professionals, and Financial Neutrals, all specially trained to help support families in transition, and all working together on your team.

The essence of Collaborative Practice includes agreement to the following:

• Negotiate a mutually acceptable settlement without having the courts decide your issues.
• Maintain open communication and information sharing with all members of the team.
• Create shared solutions, acknowledging the highest priorities of all.

I am an active member of both the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals and the Collaborative Law Institute.  For more information on this innovation way of practicing, please see the following:

Minnesota Collaborative Law Institute (CLI) website:  http://www.collaborativelaw.org
International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP) website: http://www.collaborativepractice.com/


Also, for more information on Collaborative from various media sources, follow this link to  CP in the Media.