Collaborative law is an innovative process in family disputes. Largely practised in the USA, in recent years family lawyers in the UK have started to follow this method. It is a less adversarial, more solution-orientated alternative to Court. Each individual retains his or her own collaborative lawyer to advise and assist in negotiating a settlement on all issues. All negotiations take place in "four-way" settlement meetings that both clients and both lawyers attend.
A collaborative lawyer embarking on a case has to sign an agreement promising not to issue or threaten to issue Court proceedings in relation to that case. If the parties to a case then wish to proceed through the Courts they have to find other lawyers to represent them. This creates a strong incentive to the parties and the lawyers to reach a mutually acceptable agreement – it is a way to "divorce with dignity".
Sali Jackson-Thomas underwent training as a collaborative lawyer in February 2005 with Pauline Tesler, a San Fransisco Bay area collaborative lawyer.
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