Building a successful collaborative practice requires hard work, commitment, money, and a marketing plan. The benefits include control of your time, working with other collaborative professionals, helping families resolve disputes with dignity, and getting paid promptly. If you will make a commitment to collaborative law and are willing to spend time learning new skills, you can build a thriving collaborative practice. Traits of Successful Collaborative Attorneys. Successful collaborative … [Read more...]
Has being credentialed helped my collaborative business?
Since becoming a Master Credential collaborative lawyer in March, my collaborative business has definitely increased. For whatever reason—knowledge of the collaborative option; couples seeking to avoid the cost, financial and otherwise, of litigation—I see more clients aware of and open to collaboration than ever before. Several have pointed to my credential as a distinguishing factor in their choice to employ me and my firm. Simply put, the credential matters. The impact of … [Read more...]
President’s Letter June 2017
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit." - Aristotle What is the most important factor in branding Collaborative Divorce? Bottom line, a positive client experience is key to creating and maintaining a strong brand for Collaborative Divorce. No matter how much CDT markets to and educates the public, clients must have good experiences with Collaborative Divorce for it to grow and thrive. And that job rests solely with you. What determines whether a … [Read more...]
Effective Client Screening in the Collaborative Process
As collaborative practitioners we recognize and value the utility of utilizing the collaborative approach to divorce with our clients. While this approach offers many advantages, not all clients may be appropriate for this process. Some clients arrive at this difficult time in their lives with a variety of psychosocial and psychological issues such as active substance abuse, significant depression or anxiety, history of anger and high conflict, or with pre-existing maladaptive personality traits … [Read more...]
Practice Tip: Work-Life Balance in Law Practice, Part 2
Balancing Work and Life in Solo Practice If you want to be your own boss, choose an area of law that appeals to you, fits your life style, and solves important problems for your clients. For example, I personally manage a solo firm limited to Collaborative Family Law, Probate, Wills, Trusts, and settling estate related litigation. There are many areas of law that offer opportunities for professional achievement, personal satisfaction, and flexible control of your time. The trick is to find an … [Read more...]
The Value of Practice Groups
There are a number of significant benefits associated with joining a Collaborative Practice Group. Chief among them are educational opportunities, collaborative discussion of case issues, networking, mentoring opportunities, receiving updates on upcoming collaborative events, developing and implementing joint collaborative marketing programs, enjoying group savings on CLE and participating in professional roundtable discussions. Educational Opportunities Most Collaborative Practice Groups … [Read more...]
Practice Tip – Balancing a Legal Career and Family
A majority of American lawyers experience significant anxiety, depression, or substance abuse during their career. Attorneys have a higher incidence of anxiety and depression than any other professional group. Depression begins during the first year of law school and attorney’s emotional distress grows throughout their career. Attorneys don’t start out being more depressed than other people—first year law students have levels of depression and anxiety similar to the general population. However, … [Read more...]
The Importance of Gratitude in Your Practice
November is the month of Thanksgiving, where many of us reflect on what we are grateful for. If you haven’t considered the value of gratitude in the collaborative process, I encourage you to give it some thought. Gratitude is infectious, motivates others, and strengthens team relationships. An environment full of gratitude encourages team members and clients alike to give their best. Gratitude is a core of principle needed for team effectiveness and growth of the collaborative movement. Many … [Read more...]
