Frequently Asked Questions
about Collaborative Law
Q: What is collaborative law?
A: Collaborative law originated in Minnesota as a way to
remove a matter from the adversarial court process to allow the parties to reach a
settlement cooperatively. The parties commit to work toward a resolution and each retains
their own attorney. If the matter cannot be resolved through the collaborative law process
and the case must go to court, the attorneys must withdraw from representation and each
party must hire new counsel.
Q: Is the collaborative law approach used in areas besides
family law?
A: Yes, in many areas of the country collaborative groups are
developing processes to be used in other areas of the law such as business disputes,
probate, environmental, personal injury, employment and corporate law.
Many people who find themselves at the brink of a legal problem
think twice before entering the fray because they realize how lengthy, expensive and
damaging a lawsuit can become. If you are one of those who would rather "switch than
fight," consulting with an attorney experienced in Collaborative Law from can help
you decide how to proceed.
Collaborative Law - An Overview
- Lawsuits can be time-consuming and expensive, and can take an
emotional toll on all of those involved. While the formalities of the traditional
adversarial process may be necessary to protect the parties' interests in some cases, the
parties can save themselves time, money and stress if they are willing to work together in
the collaborative law process. If you believe your legal situation can best be resolved
through collaborative law, contact The Collaborative Law Group in Ellicott City, Maryland
to discuss your matter. An attorney experienced in the collaborative method can review
your case and help you determine the best way to seek resolution.
Collaborative Divorce
- The most significant developments in collaborative law have been
in the family law arena. In fact, many people talking about "collaborative law"
are actually referring to collaborative divorce.
Collaborative Law Practice Areas
- While collaborative law is most commonly used to resolve family
law issues, the use of the method is expanding into more practice areas - most notably in
the areas of employment law, business disputes and probate.
The Development of Collaborative Law
- Processes similar to collaborative law have been around a long
time. In fact, the processes lawyers use in criminal law, juvenile law and child
protective services have their roots in practices that incorporate many of the principles
now enshrined in collaborative law.
The Comprehensive Law Movement
- Collaborative law is often considered to be one component of the
comprehensive law movement. The comprehensive law movement views law from an
all-inclusive, holistic perspective. Rather than simply looking at what is going on in
this particular case, the comprehensive law view attempts to see beyond the short-term
outcome to the long-term effects the case may have on the parties involved.
Collaborative Law Resource Links
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