ÿWPCª u²NÏX7%UƒÉ–ÔƒSd‡¯IU(>ô2¸î3Ë…á]£Z"åcN‡™ö†+30Ûµã%e(DÝ$é_VHèHºH`*ŒuàÔø‘’ƈ·÷3Õê Õ «B1‹(É!¾ni {rƒO3,n¨•|‘ÍêfÉ›í¦•ˆý®×>ÏkŽãGIY9ý+W•¥æWbp(‘ƒÙ³&¥WkŠ)VÒÅ!È}‰£óÈ˹Šo”‰ îíº·ß¶ž“ CŸ©¤h¦}ï‰ê><ì¶®2ådÛ~§lÛ“%µ$‡2Dœót«¸£BùÍè󄽆ÃÊts²n<ŠôbþlZ_ÂqÌNÎ óU…K«²rUû´ {ó”/ç@"#­™‹üÕø&Z*Öðƒz}† bZr‘%Å b‹]u=ê{$bLûK»Ÿ¢z‡+¿y ¥.“+ò*f]þÊh·Þ3³q-û·³¿ ‘Jd{\ð5£|©>_æ{2)1ÿÀjnâeó}빈‚âöï`â¡lÁ¶  (þËZ ƒ±ðˆ2¸/t¶é9ĨX´~<•Ý©jpÕl ÕÊ)ÂóECÍÈÈ7Y=€âE9Þ¿ê HHÆE+#ÉZU N# %q 0:w 0î± 0ëŸ 0èŠ 0år 0âW 0ß9 0Ü 0Ùô 0ÖÍ 0Ü£ 0Ù 0ÖX 0Ó. 0Ð 0ÍÑ 0Êž 0Çh 0Ä/ 0Ûó 0ØÎ 0Õ¦ 0Ò{ 0ÏM 0Ì 0Éè 0Ʊ 0Ãw 0P: 0PŠ 0PÚU2*^ \wh4l€ m‘N¨˜Brother HL-1040 (600 dpi),,,,,,,,0(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$¡¡ÔUSUS.,Ô2G+J ÿÿ0_level1Ó ¨ý ÓÓ X ÓÓ/%4 4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤/ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2D+J ÿÿ0_level2Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ° ÓÓ,"Œ Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤,ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2A+J ÿÿ0_level3Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ)ä ä <”ìDœôL¤)ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2>+J ÿÿ0_level4Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ` ÓÓ&<<”ìDœôL¤&ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2;+J ÿÿ0_level5Ó ¨ý 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ÝòŒòÔ#†#X¬ÇX#ú¨#ÔÔ‡#èKp çà#X¬ÇÔÔ#†è ç #èKpê#ÔÔ‡#èKp ç èÔHòòandbook€for݃"ÿÿGoÝÔ Ý WԌР;ã ÐŒÝ  ÝÓ –ÓóóóóCòòlientsÔ' ;)ÔÐ Ái ÐÓ –ÓÔ#†#X¬ÇX #èKp´#ÔÔ‡#Š¢íˆà#X¬ÇÔÔ#†ŠØˆ#Š¢íö#ÔÔ‡#Š¢íˆŠØÔAn€orientation€to€the€divorce€process,€theÐ Ý … Ѐdispute„resolution€options€available€toÐ Ý … Ðclients,€and€the€new€dispute„resolutionÐ Ý …  Ðoption,€ð ðcollaborative€law.ððÐ Ý …  ÐÔÈ¥M Ý … ÔÓ ôÓÓ pþÓÓ ÓÓ<(l l4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤°œX<ÓÓ33ÓóŒóó óóóÔ#†#X¬ÇXˆ#Š¢í÷#ÔÔ‡#ÂKÂX#X¬ÇÔÔ#†ÂÂÂ#ÂK9#ÔÔ‡#ÂKÂÂÂÔðð2001€American€Bar€AssociationÐ ¥M  ÐÔdÈpd ÔÓ dôÓÓ  Óò òÔ#†#X¬ÇXÂ#ÂK #ÔÔ‡#ôp”òX#X¬ÇÔÔ#†ô<òò#ôp”M#ÔÔ‡#ôp”òòô<Ô1.à @ àWhat€are€my€choices€for€professional€help€in€my€divorce?Ð Èp  ÐÓ dÓÓ pþÓÓš33Óó óAll€divorces€involve€decisions€and€choices.€Which€professionals€will€assist€you,€and€how€youÐ Á  Ðwill€utilize€their€help,€are€decisions€that€can€powerfully€affect€whether€your€divorce€movesÐ ê’  Ðforward€smoothly€or€not.Ð »c  ÐÓ ÈÓSome€couples€resolve€all€their€divorce€issues€without€any€professional€assistance€at€all,€andÐ Œ4 Ðprocess€their€own€divorce€papers€themselves€through€the€courts.€On€the€other€end€of€theÐ ] Ðspectrum,€some€couples€engage€in€drawn„out€courtroom€battles€that€cost€dearly€in€emotionalÐ .Ö Ðand€financial€resources€and€can€take€considerable€time€to€complete.€Most€people€find€theirÐ ÿ§ Ðneeds€fall€between€these€extremes.Ð Ðx ÐÓ ¼ÓÐ ¡I ÐBelow€are€the€choices€for€obtaining€professional€legal€services€in€divorce€that€are€available€in€mostÐ r Ðlocalities€today.€The€list€moves€from€choices€involving€the€least€degree€of€professional€intervention,€andÐ Cë Ðthe€most€privacy€and€client€control,€to€choices€involving€greater€professional€intervention€and€the€leastÐ ¼ Ðprivacy€and€control.Ð å ÐÔÈ~&¶^ÔÓ ÈÓò òòòUnbundled€Legal€Assistance:ó óóó€The€client€in€this€model€acts€as€a€ð ðgeneral€contractorðð€and€takes€primaryÐ ~& Ðresponsibility€for€the€divorce,€making€use€of€legal€counsel€on€an€ð ðas€neededðð€basis€for€help€in€resolvingÐ Sû Ðspecific€issues,€drafting€papers,€and€so€forth.€The€lawyer€doesnððt€take€over€responsibility€for€managingÐ $ Ì Ðthe€case.Ð õ  Ðò òòòMediation:€ó óóóA€single€neutral€person,€who€may€be€a€lawyer,€a€mental€health€professional,€or€simplyÐ Æ!n Ðsomeone€with€an€interest€in€mediation,€acts€as€the€mediator€for€the€couple.€The€mediator€helps€theÐ ›"C  Ðcouple€reach€agreement,€but€does€not€give€individual€legal€advice,€and€may€or€may€not€prepare€theÐ l#! Ðdivorce€agreement.€Few€mediators€will€process€the€divorce€through€the€court.€Retaining€your€own€lawyerÐ =$å! Ðfor€independent€legal€advice€during€mediation€is€generally€wise.€In€some€locales€the€lawyers€sit€in€on€theÐ %¶"  Ðmediation€process,€and€in€other€locales€they€remain€outside€the€mediation€process.€Mediators€do€notÐ ß%‡#! Ðhave€to€have€to€be€licensed€professionals€in€most€jurisdictions.Ð °&X$" Ðò òòòCollaborative€Law:ó óóó€Each€person€retains€his€or€her€own€trained€collaborative€lawyer€to€advise€and€assistÐ ')%# Ðin€negotiating€an€agreement€on€all€issues.€All€negotiations€take€place€in€ð ðfour„wayðð€settlement€meetingsÐ V(þ%$ Ðthat€both€clients€and€both€lawyers€attend.€The€lawyers€cannot€go€to€court€or€threaten€to€go€to€court.Ð ')Ï&% ÐSettlement€is€the€only€agenda.€If€either€client€goes€to€court,€both€collaborative€lawyers€are€disqualifiedÐ ø) '& Ðfrom€further€participation.€Each€client€has€built„in€legal€advice€and€advocacy€during€negotiations,€andÐ É*q(' Ðeach€lawyerððs€job€includes€guiding€the€client€toward€reasonable€resolutions.€The€legal€advice€is€anÐ š+B)( Ðintegral€part€of€the€process,€but€all€the€decisions€are€made€by€the€clients.€The€lawyers€generally€prepareÐ k,*) Ðand€process€all€papers€required€for€the€divorce.Ð <-ä** Ðò òòòConventional€Representation:€ó óóóEach€person€hires€a€lawyer.€The€lawyers€may€be€good€at€settling€cases,Ð  .µ++ Ðin€which€case€they€work€toward€that€goal€at€the€same€time€that€they€prepare€the€case€for€the€possibilityÐ â.Š,, Ðof€trial.€If€the€lawyers€are€not€particularly€good€at,€or€interested€in,€settling€the€case€all€lawyer€efforts€areÐ ³/[-- Ðaimed€solely€at€preparing€for€trial,€though€a€settlement€may€still€result€at€or€near€the€time€of€trial.€EitherÐ X Ðway,€the€pacing€and€objectives€of€the€legal€representation€tend€to€be€dictated€by€what€happens€in€court.Ð )Ñ ÐCases€handled€this€way€generally€involve€higher€legal€fees,€and€take€longer€to€complete,€thanÐ ú¢ Ðcollaborative€law€cases€or€mediated€cases.€The€risk€of€a€high€conflict€divorce€is€higher€than€withÐ Ës Ðmediation€or€collaborative€law.Ð œD Ðò òòòó óóóò òòòð ðWarðð:€ó óóóOne€or€both€parties€is€motivated€primarily€by€strong€emotion€(fear,€anger,€guilt,€etc.)€and€as€aÐ m Ðconsequence€the€parties€take€extreme,€black€and€white€positions€and€look€to€the€courts€for€revenge€orÐ Bê Ðvalidation.€Reasonable€accommodations€are€not€made.€The€attorneys€often€function€as€ð ðalter€egosðð€forÐ » Ðtheir€clients€instead€of€counseling€the€clients€toward€sensible€solutions.€This€is€the€costliest€form€ofÐ äŒ Ðdispute€resolution,€emotionally€and€financially.€It€is€always€destructive€for€the€children€involved.€SuchÐ µ ]  Ðcases€can€drag€on€for€many€years.€Few€clients€report€satisfaction€with€the€outcome€of€cases€handledÐ † .  Ðthis€way,€regardless€of€who€won.Ð W ÿ  ÐÔdŒ 4 ( Ð ÔÓ dÓÓ pþÓÓ33šÓò ò2.à @ àCan€you€say€more€about€Collaborative€Law?Ð Œ 4  ÐÓ dÓÓ pþÓÓš33Óó óCollaborative€law€is€the€newest€divorce€dispute„resolution€model.€In€collaborative€law,€both€parties€to€theÐ Ý …  Ðdivorce€retain€separate,€specially€trained€lawyers€whose€only€job€is€to€help€them€settle€the€case.€If€theÐ ®V  Ðlawyers€do€not€succeed€in€helping€the€clients€resolve€the€issues,€the€lawyers€are€out€of€a€job€and€canÐ '  Ðnever€represent€either€client€against€the€other€again.€All€participants€agree€to€work€together€respectfully,Ð Pø  Ðhonestly,€and€in€good€faith€to€try€to€find€win„win€solutions€to€the€legitimate€needs€of€both€parties.€FourÐ !É Ðcreative€minds€work€together€to€devise€individualized€settlement€scenarios.€No€one€may€go€to€court,€orÐ òš Ðeven€threaten€to€do€so,€and€if€that€should€occur,€the€collaborative€law€process€terminates€and€bothÐ Ãk Ðlawyers€are€disqualified€from€any€further€involvement€in€the€case.€Lawyers€hired€for€a€collaborative€lawÐ ”< Ðrepresentation€can€never€under€any€circumstances€go€to€court€for€the€clients€who€retained€them.Ð e  ÐÔdšB6ÞÔÓ dÓÓ pþÓÓ33šÓò ò3.à @ àIs€Collaborative€Law€only€for€divorces?Ð šB ÐÓ dÓÓ pþÓÓš33Óó óCollaborative€lawyers€can€do€everything€that€a€conventional€family€lawyer€does€except€go€to€court.€TheyÐ ë“ Ðcan€negotiate€non„marital€custody€agreements,€premarital€and€postnuptial€agreements,€and€agreementsÐ ¼d Ðterminating€gay€and€lesbian€relationships.€Collaborative€Law€can€also€be€used€in€probate€disputes,Ð 5 Ðbusiness€partnership€dissolutions,€employment€and€commercial€disputes„wherever€disputing€partiesÐ ^ Ðwant€a€contained,€creative,€civilized€process€that€builds€in€legal€counsel€and€distributes€the€risk€of€failureÐ /× Ðto€the€lawyers€as€well€as€the€clients.Ð ¨ ÐÔd5ÝÑyÔÓ dÓÓ pþÓÓ33šÓò ò4.à @ àWhat€is€the€difference€between€Collaborative€Law€and€mediation?Ð 5Ý ÐÓ dÓÓ pþÓÓš33Óó óIn€mediation,€there€is€one€neutral€professional€who€helps€the€disputing€parties€try€to€settle€their€case.Ð †. ÐMediation€can€be€challenging€where€the€parties€are€not€on€a€level€playing€field€with€one€another,€becauseÐ Wÿ Ðthe€mediator€cannot€give€either€party€legal€advice,€and€cannot€help€either€side€advocate€its€position.€IfÐ (Ð  Ðone€side€or€the€other€becomes€unreasonable€or€stubborn,€or€lacks€negotiating€skill,€or€is€emotionallyÐ ù¡! Ðdistraught,€the€mediation€can€become€unbalanced,€and€if€the€mediator€tries€to€deal€with€the€problem,€theÐ Ê r" Ðmediator€may€be€seen€by€one€side€or€the€other€as€biased,€whether€or€not€that€is€so.€If€the€mediator€doesÐ ›!C# Ðnot€find€a€way€to€deal€with€the€problem,€the€mediation€can€break€down,€or€the€agreement€that€results€canÐ l" $ Ðbe€unfair.€If€there€are€lawyers€for€the€parties€at€all,€they€may€not€be€present€at€the€negotiation€and€theirÐ =#å % Ðadvice€may€come€too€late€to€be€helpful.€Collaborative€Law€was€designed€to€deal€with€these€problems,Ð $¶!& Ðwhile€maintaining€the€same€absolute€commitment€to€settlement€as€the€sole€agenda.€Each€side€has€legalÐ ß$‡"' Ðadvice€and€advocacy€built€in€at€all€times€during€the€process.€Even€if€one€side€or€the€other€lacksÐ °%X#( Ðnegotiating€skill€or€financial€understanding,€or€is€emotionally€upset€or€angry,€the€playing€field€is€leveledÐ &)$) Ðby€the€direct€participation€of€the€skilled€advocates.€It€is€the€job€of€the€lawyers€to€work€with€their€ownÐ R'ú$* Ðclients€if€the€clients€are€being€unreasonable,€to€make€sure€that€the€process€stays€positive€and€productive.Ð #(Ë%+ ÐÔdX)'ô(œ&ÔÓ dÓÓ pþÓÓ33šÓò ò5.à @ àHow€is€Collaborative€Law€different€from€the€traditional€adversarial€divorce€process?Ð X)', ÐÓ dÓÓ ÔþpþÓÓ ¼ÓÓ<%˜ ˜Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤ll4ŠX<ÓÓš33Óó óððà l àIn€Collaborative€law,€all€participate€in€an€open,€honest€exchange€of€information.€Neither€party€takesÐ ©*Q(- Ðadvantage€of€the€miscalculations€or€mistakes€of€the€others,€but€instead€identifies€and€corrects€them.Ð z+"). Ðððà l àIn€Collaborative€law,€both€parties€insulate€their€children€from€their€disputes€and,€should€custody€beÐ K,ó)/ Ðan€issue,€they€avoid€the€professional€custody€evaluation€process.Ð -Ä*0 Ðððà l àBoth€parties€in€collaborative€law€use€joint€accountants,€mental€health€consultants,€appraisers,€andÐ í-•+1 Ðother€consultants,€instead€of€adversarial€experts.Ð ¾.f,2 Ðððà l àIn€collaborative€law,€a€respectful,€creative€effort€to€meet€the€legitimate€needs€of€both€spousesÐ /7-3 Ðreplaces€tactical€bargaining€backed€by€threats€of€litigation.Ð `0.4 Ðððà l àIn€collaborative€law,€the€lawyers€must€guide€the€process€to€settlement€or€withdraw€from€furtherÐ X Ðparticipation,€unlike€adversarial€lawyers,€who€remain€involved€whether€the€case€settles€or€is€tried.Ð )Ñ Ðððà l àIn€collaborative€law,€there€is€parity€of€payment€to€each€lawyers€so€that€neither€partyððs€representationÐ ú¢ Ðis€disadvantaged€vis„a„vis€the€other€by€lack€of€funds,€a€frequent€problem€in€adversarial€litigation.Ð Ës ÐÔd¨œDÔÓ dÓÓ pþÔþÓÓ ¼ÓÓ?(l l4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤˜˜Œ ‰X?ÓÓ33šÓò ò6.à @ àWhat€kind€of€information€and€documents€are€available€in€the€collaborative€law€negotiations?Ð ¨ ÐÓ dÓÓ pþÓÓš33Óó óBoth€sides€sign€a€binding€agreement€to€disclose€all€documents€and€information€that€relate€to€the€issues,Ð Qù Ðearly€and€fully€and€voluntarily.€ð ðHide€the€ballðð€and€stonewalling€are€not€permitted.€Both€lawyers€stake€theirÐ "Ê Ðprofessional€integrity€on€ensuring€full,€early,€voluntary€disclosure€of€necessary€information.Ð ó› ÐÔd( ÐÄ lÔÓ dÓÓ pþÓÓ33šÓò ò7.à @ àWhat€happens€if€one€side€or€the€other€does€play€ð ðhide€the€ball,ðð€or€is€dishonest€in€some€way,€orÐ ( Ð Ðmisuses€the€Collaborative€Law€process€to€take€advantage€of€the€other€party?Ð  ½  ÐÓ dÓÓ pþÓÓš33Óó óThat€can€happen.€There€are€no€guarantees€that€oneððs€rights€will€be€protected€if€a€participant€in€theÐ f   Ðcollaborative€law€process€acts€in€bad€faith.€There€also€are€no€guarantees€in€conventional€legalÐ 7 ß  Ðrepresentation.€What€is€different€about€collaborative€law€is€that€the€collaborative€agreement€requires€aÐ °  Ðlawyer€to€withdraw€upon€becoming€aware€his/her€client€is€being€less€than€fully€honest,€or€participatingÐ Ù  Ðin€the€process€in€bad€faith.Ð ªR  ÐÓ ÈÓFor€instance,€if€documents€are€altered€or€withheld,€or€if€a€client€is€deliberately€delaying€matters€forÐ {# Ðeconomic€or€other€gain,€the€lawyers€have€promised€in€advance€that€they€will€withdraw€and€will€notÐ Lô Ðcontinue€to€represent€the€client.€The€same€is€true€if€the€client€fails€to€keep€agreements€made€during€theÐ Å Ðcourse€of€negotiations,€for€instance€an€agreement€to€consult€a€vocational€counselor,€or€an€agreementÐ î– Ðto€engage€in€joint€parenting€counseling.Ð ¿g ÐÔdôœ8ÔÓ dÓÓ pþÈÓÓ33šÓò ò8.à @ àHow€do€I€know€whether€it€is€safe€for€me€to€work€in€the€Collaborative€Law€process?Ð ôœ ÐÓ dÓÓ pþÓÓš33Óó óThe€collaborative€law€process€does€not€guarantee€you€that€every€asset€or€every€dollar€of€income€will€beÐ Eí Ðdisclosed,€any€more€than€the€conventional€litigation€process€can€guarantee€you€that.€In€the€end,€aÐ ¾ Ðdishonest€person€who€works€very€hard€to€conceal€money€can€sometimes€succeed,€because€the€timeÐ ç Ðand€expense€involved€in€investigating€concealed€assets€can€be€high,€and€the€results€uncertain.€However,Ð ¸` Ðfar€greater€efforts€to€track€down€concealed€assets€and€income€can€be€expected€in€conventional€litigationÐ ‰1 Ðthan€in€collaborative€law,€which€relies€upon€voluntary€disclosure.Ð Z ÐÓ ÈÓYou€are€generally€the€best€judge€of€your€spouse€or€partnerððs€basic€honesty.€If€s/he€would€lie€on€anÐ +Ó Ðincome€tax€return,€he€or€she€is€probably€not€a€good€candidate€for€a€Collaborative€Law€divorce,€becauseÐ ü¤ Ðthe€necessary€honesty€would€be€lacking.€But€if€you€have€confidence€in€his€or€her€basic€honesty,€then€theÐ Íu Ðprocess€may€be€a€good€choice€for€you.€The€choice€ultimately€is€yours.Ð žF ÐÔdÓ{oÔÓ dÓÓ pþÈÓÓ33šÓò ò9.à @ àIs€Collaborative€Law€the€best€choice€for€me?Ð Ó{ ÐÓ dÓÓ pþÓÓš33Óó óIt€isnððt€for€every€client€(or€every€lawyer),€but€it€is€worth€considering€if€some€or€all€of€these€are€true€for€you:Ð $ Ì  ÐÔdY!õ ÔÓ ÔþÓÓ ¼ÓÓ<%˜ ˜Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤ll4ŠX<Óa)à l àYou€want€a€civilized,€respectful€resolution€of€the€issues.Ð Y!! Ðb)à l àYou€would€like€to€keep€open€the€possibility€of€friendship€with€your€partner€down€the€road.Ð *"Ò" Ðc)à l àYou€and€your€partner€will€be€co„parenting€children€together€and€you€want€the€best€coparentingÐ û"£ # Ðrelationship€possible.Ð Ì#t!$ Ðd)à l àYou€want€to€protect€your€children€from€the€harm€associated€with€litigated€dispute€resolution€betweenÐ $E"% Ðparents.Ð n%#& Ðe)à l àYou€and€your€partner€have€a€circle€of€friends€or€extended€family€in€common€that€you€both€want€toÐ ?&ç#' Ðremain€connected€to.Ð '¸$( Ðf)à l àYou€have€ethical€or€spiritual€beliefs€that€place€high€value€on€taking€personal€responsibility€forÐ á'‰%) Ðhandling€conflicts€with€integrity.Ð ²(Z&* Ðg)à l àYou€value€privacy€in€your€personal€affairs€and€do€not€want€details€of€your€problems€to€be€availableÐ ƒ)+'+ Ðin€the€public€court€record.Ð T*ü', Ðh)à l àYou€value€control€and€autonomous€decision€making€and€do€not€want€to€hand€over€decisions€aboutÐ %+Í(- Ðrestructuring€your€financial€and/or€child„rearing€arrangements€to€a€stranger€(i.e.,€a€judge).Ð ö+ž). Ði)à l àYou€recognize€the€restricted€range€of€outcomes€and€ð ðrough€justiceðð€generally€available€in€the€publicÐ Ç,o*/ Ðcourt€system,€and€want€a€more€creative€and€individualized€range€of€choices€available€to€you€andÐ ˜-@+0 Ðyour€spouse€or€partner€for€resolving€your€issues.Ð i.,1 Ðj)à l àYou€place€as€much€or€more€value€on€the€relationships€that€will€exist€in€your€restructured€familyÐ :/â,2 Ðsituation€as€you€place€on€obtaining€the€maximum€possible€amount€of€money€for€yourself.Ð  0³-3 Ðk)à l àYou€understand€that€conflict€resolution€with€integrity€involves€not€only€achieving€your€own€goals€butÐ X Ðfinding€a€way€to€achieve€the€reasonable€goals€of€the€other€person.Ð )Ñ Ðl)à l àYou€and€your€spouse€will€commit€your€intelligence€and€energy€toward€creative€problem€solvingÐ ú¢ Ðrather€than€toward€recriminations€or€revenge„fixing€the€problem€rather€than€fixing€blame.Ð Ës ÐÔd¨œDÔÓ dÓÓ pþÔþÓÓ ¼ÓÓ?(l l4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤˜˜Œ ‰X?ÓÓ33šÓò ò10.à @ àMy€lawyer€says€she€settles€most€of€her€cases.€How€is€collaborative€law€different€from€what€sheÐ ¨ Ðdoes€when€she€settles€cases€in€a€conventional€law€practice?Ð í• ÐÓ dÓÓ pþÓÓš33Óó óAny€experienced€collaborative€lawyer€will€tell€you€that€there€is€a€big€difference€between€a€settlement€thatÐ >æ Ðis€negotiated€during€the€conventional€litigation€process,€and€a€settlement€that€takes€place€in€the€contextÐ  · Ðof€an€agreement€that€there€will€be€no€court€proceedings€or€even€the€threat€of€court.€Most€conventionalÐ à ˆ Ðfamily€law€cases€settle€figuratively,€if€not€literally,€ð ðon€the€courthouse€steps.ðð€By€that€time,€a€great€dealÐ ± Y  Ðof€money€has€been€spent,€and€a€great€deal€of€emotional€damage€can€have€been€caused.€TheÐ ‚ *  Ðsettlements€are€reached€under€conditions€of€considerable€tension€and€anxiety,€and€both€ð ðbuyerððsÐ S û  Ðremorseðð€and€ð ðsellerððs€remorseðð€are€common.€Moreover,€the€settlements€are€reached€in€the€shadow€ofÐ $ Ì  Ðtrial,€and€are€generally€shaped€largely€by€what€the€lawyers€believe€the€judge€in€the€case€is€likely€to€do.Ð õ  ÐÓ ÈÓNothing€could€be€more€different€from€what€happens€in€a€typical€collaborative€law€settlement.€TheÐ Æn  Ðprocess€is€geared€from€day€one€to€make€it€possible€for€creative,€respectful€collective€problem€solvingÐ —?  Ðto€happen.€It€is€quicker,€less€costly,€more€creative,€more€individualized,€less€stressful,€and€overall€moreÐ h Ðsatisfying€in€its€results€than€what€occurs€in€most€conventional€settlement€negotiations.Ð 9á ÐÔdn ²ÔÓ dÓÓ pþÈÓÓ33šÓò ò11.à @ àWhy€is€collaborative€law€such€an€effective€settlement€process?Ð n ÐÓ dÓÓ pþÓÓš33Óó óBecause€the€collaborative€lawyers€have€a€completely€different€state€of€mind€about€what€their€job€is€thanÐ ¿g Ðtraditional€lawyers€generally€bring€to€their€work.€We€call€it€a€ð ðparadigm€shift.ðð€Instead€of€being€dedicatedÐ 8 Ðto€getting€the€largest€possible€piece€of€the€pie€for€their€own€client,€no€matter€the€human€or€financial€cost,Ð a  Ðcollaborative€lawyers€are€dedicated€to€helping€their€clients€achieve€their€highest€intentions€for€themselvesÐ 2Ú Ðin€their€post„divorce€restructured€families.Ð « ÐÓ ÈÓCollaborative€lawyers€do€not€act€as€a€hired€guns,€nor€do€they€take€advantage€of€mistakes€inadvertentlyÐ Ô| Ðmade€by€the€other€side,€nor€do€they€threaten,€or€insult,€or€focus€on€the€negative€either€in€their€own€clientsÐ ¥M Ðor€on€the€other€side.€They€expect€and€encourage€the€highest€good„faith€problem„solving€behavior€fromÐ v Ðtheir€own€clients€and€themselves,€and€they€stake€their€own€professional€integrity€on€delivering€that,€inÐ Gï Ðany€collaborative€representation€they€participate€in.Ð À ÐCollaborative€lawyers€trust€one€another.€They€still€owe€a€primary€allegiance€and€duty€to€their€ownÐ é‘ Ðclients,€within€all€mandates€of€professional€responsibility,€but€they€know€that€the€only€way€they€can€serveÐ ºb Ðthe€true€best€interests€of€their€clients€is€to€behave€with,€and€demand,€the€highest€integrity€fromÐ ‹3 Ðthemselves,€their€clients,€and€the€other€participants€in€the€collaborative€process.Ð \  ÐCollaborative€Law€offers€a€greater€potential€for€creative€problem€solving€than€does€either€mediationÐ -Õ! Ðor€litigation,€in€that€only€collaborative€law€puts€two€lawyers€in€the€same€room€pulling€in€the€same€directionÐ þ¦" Ðwith€both€clients€to€solve€the€same€list€of€problems.€Lawyers€excel€at€solving€problems,€but€inÐ Ï w# Ðconventional€litigation€they€generally€pull€in€opposite€directions.€No€matter€how€good€the€lawyers€mayÐ  !H$ Ðbe€for€their€own€clients,€they€cannot€succeed€as€Collaborative€Lawyers€unless€they€also€can€findÐ q" % Ðsolutions€to€the€other€partyððs€problems€that€both€clients€find€satisfactory.€This€is€the€special€characteristicÐ B#ê & Ðof€collaborative€law€that€is€found€in€no€other€dispute€resolution€process.Ð $»!' ÐÔdH%ð"ä$Œ"ÔÓ dÓÓ pþÈÓÓ33šÓò ò12.à @ àWhat€if€my€spouse€and€I€can€reach€agreement€on€almost€everything,€but€there€is€one€point€onÐ H%ð"( Ðwhich€we€are€stuck.€Would€we€have€to€lose€our€Collaborative€Lawyers€and€go€to€court?Ð 5&Ý#) ÐÓ dÓÓ pþÓÓš33Óó óIn€that€situation€it€is€possible,€if€everyone€agrees€(both€lawyers€and€both€clients),€to€submit€just€that€oneÐ †'.%* Ðissue€for€decision€by€an€arbitrator€or€private€judge.€We€do€this€with€important€limitations€and€safeguardsÐ W(ÿ%+ Ðbuilt€in,€so€that€the€integrity€of€the€collaborative€law€process€is€not€undermined.€Everyone€must€agree€thatÐ ()Ð&, Ðthe€good€faith€atmosphere€of€the€collaborative€law€process€would€not€be€damaged€by€submitting€theÐ ù)¡'- Ðissue€for€third€party€decision,€and€everyone€must€agree€on€the€issue€and€on€who€will€be€the€decisionÐ Ê*r(. Ðmaker.Ð ›+C)/ ÐÔdÐ,x*l,*ÔÓ dÓÓ pþÓÓ33šÓò ò13.à @ àWhat€if€my€spouse€or€partner€chooses€a€lawyer€who€doesnððt€know€about€Collaborative€Law?Ð Ð,x*0 ÐÓ dÓÓ pþÓÓš33Óó óCollaborative€lawyers€have€different€views€about€this.€Some€will€ð ðsign€onðð€to€a€collaborativeÐ !.É+1 Ðrepresentation€with€any€lawyer€who€is€willing€to€give€it€a€try.€Others€believe€that€is€unwise€and€will€not€doÐ ò.š,2 ÐÔ_Ôthat.Ð Ã/k-3 ÐÓ ÈÓTrust€between€the€lawyers€is€essential€for€the€collaborative€law€process€to€work€at€its€best.€Unless€theÐ X Ðlawyers€can€rely€on€one€anotherððs€representations€about€full€disclosure,€for€example,€there€can€beÐ )Ñ Ðinsufficient€protection€against€dishonesty€by€a€party.€If€your€lawyer€lacks€confidence€that€the€other€lawyerÐ ú¢ Ðwill€withdraw€from€representing€a€dishonest€client,€it€might€be€unwise€to€sign€on€to€a€formal€collaborativeÐ Ës Ðlaw€process€(involving€disqualification€of€both€lawyers€from€representation€in€court€if€the€collaborativeÐ œD Ðlaw€process€fails).Ð m ÐSimilarly,€collaborative€law€demands€special€skills€from€the€lawyers„skills€in€guiding€negotiations,€andÐ >æ Ðin€managing€conflict.€Lawyers€need€to€study€and€practice€to€learn€these€new€skills,€which€are€quiteÐ · Ðdifferent€from€the€skills€offered€by€conventional€adversarial€lawyers.€Without€them,€a€lawyer€would€haveÐ àˆ Ða€hard€time€working€effectively€in€a€collaborative€law€negotiation.Ð ± Y  ÐAnd€some€lawyers€might€even€collude€with€their€clients€to€misuse€the€collaborative€law€process,€forÐ ‚ *  Ðdelay,€or€to€get€an€unfair€edge€in€negotiations.€For€these€reasons,€some€lawyers€hesitate€to€sign€on€toÐ S û  Ða€formal€collaborative€law€representation€with€a€lawyer€inexperienced€in€this€model.€That€doesnððt€meanÐ $ Ì  Ðyour€lawyer€could€not€work€cordially€or€cooperatively€with€that€lawyer,€but€caution€is€advised€in€signingÐ õ  Ðthe€formal€agreements€that€are€the€heart€of€collaborative€law€where€there€is€no€track€record€of€mutualÐ Æ n  Ðtrust€between€the€lawyers.€You€and€your€spouse€will€get€the€best€results€by€retaining€two€lawyers€whoÐ —?  Ðboth€can€show€that€they€have€committed€to€learning€how€to€practice€collaborative€law€by€obtainingÐ h  Ðtraining€as€well€as€experience€in€this€new€way€of€helping€clients€through€divorce.Ð 9á  ÐÔdn ²ÔÓ dÓÓ pþÈÓÓ33šÓò ò14.à @ àWhy€is€it€so€important€to€sign€on€formally€to€the€official€Collaborative€Law€Agreement?€Why€canððtÐ n Ðyou€work€collaboratively€with€the€other€lawyer€but€still€go€to€court€if€the€process€doesnððt€work?Ð [ ÐÓ dÓÓ pþÓÓš33Óó óThe€special€power€that€Collaborative€Law€has€to€spark€creative€conflict€resolution€seems€to€happen€onlyÐ ¬T Ðwhen€the€lawyers€and€the€clients€are€all€pulling€together€in€the€same€direction,€to€solve€the€sameÐ }% Ðproblems€in€the€same€way.€If€the€lawyers€can€still€consider€unilateral€resort€to€the€courts€as€a€fallbackÐ Nö Ðoption,€their€thought€processes€do€not€become€transformed;€their€creativity€is€actually€crippled€by€theÐ Ç Ðavailability€of€court€and€conventional€trials.€Only€when€everyone€knows€that€it€is€up€to€the€four€of€themÐ ð˜ Ðand€only€the€four€of€them€to€think€their€way€to€a€solution,€or€else€the€process€fails€and€the€lawyers€areÐ Ái Ðout€of€the€picture,€does€the€special€ð ðÔ_ÔhypercreativityÔ_Ôðð€of€collaborative€law€get€triggered.€The€moment€whenÐ ’: Ðeach€person€realizes€that€solving€both€clientsðð€problems€is€the€responsibility€of€all€four€participants€is€theÐ c  Ðmoment€when€the€magic€can€happen.Ð 4Ü ÐÓ ÈÓCollaborative€law€is€not€just€two€lawyers€who€like€each€other,€or€who€agree€to€ð ðbehave€nicely.ðð€It€is€aÐ ­ Ðspecial€technique€that€demands€special€talents€and€procedures€in€order€to€work€as€promised.Ð Ö~ ÐAny€effort€by€parties€and€their€lawyers€to€resolve€disputes€cooperatively€and€outside€court€is€to€beÐ §O Ðencouraged,€but€only€collaborative€law€is€collaborative€law.Ð x   ÐÔd­UIñÔÓ dÓÓ pþÈÓÓ33šÓò ò15.à @ àHow€do€I€find€a€collaborative€lawyer?€Ó dÓÐ ­U! ÐÓ pþÓÓš33Óó óYou€can€check€the€yellow€pages€and€contact€your€local€bar€association€to€see€if€there€are€listings€ofÐ šB" Ðcollaborative€lawyers€in€your€area.€You€can€contact€the€International€Academy€of€CollaborativeÐ k # ÐProfessionals€(web€site:€http://www.collabgroup.com)€to€inquire€about€collaborative€lawyers€near€you.Ð