COLLABORATIVE LAW IS a dispute resolution model that is growing in popularity in New Hampshire. Stuart Webb, a family lawyer from Minneapolis, Minn. originated the idea and practice in 1990. Collaborative law then spread to other states as lawyers discovered its benefit to clients as well as practitioners. Collaborative law is most often practiced in the area of family law but has practical applications in virtually all areas of civil law.

Today, there are over 30 attorneys who are practitioner members of the Collaborative Law Alliance of New Hampshire. Several members have had six or more collaborative law cases to date.

The underlying principal of collaborative law is dispute resolution without litigation. Each client in a collaborative process is represented by trained counsel throughout the negotiation process. The purpose of the representation is assisting the parties to reach an agreement that is equitable and meets the needs of each to the maximum extent possible. This commitment to negotiation and problem solving without the threat of litigation is backed up by a binding stipulation signed by both parties and their respective counsel that disqualifies both counsel if either party threatens or elects to go to court.

Alliance members have discovered that the collaborative process fosters a spirit of mutual problem solving from which a greater level of creativity emerges than in negotiations conducted in the traditional, adversarial approach. These members also report a higher level of satisfaction from their collaborative clients as opposed to clients who rely upon the adversarial approach to resolve disputes. In addition to greater client satisfaction, alliance members report a greater level of satisfaction from their collaborative cases than their adversarial cases.

The Collaborative Law Alliance of New Hampshire was established in 2001. Since its formation, the Alliance has been an active force in expanding the practice of collaborative law within the state. The Alliance has presented several CLEs since 2000, training numerous lawyers in the collaborative dispute resolution process.

The Alliance is presenting training on June 25. This seminar will include tracks for both those seeking an introduction into collaborative law and those who have had a basic training in collaborative law and wish to upgrade their skills. Both tracks offer six hours of CLE credits, including two hours of ethics.

For more information on the June25 seminar or on the Collaborative Law Alliance of New Hampshire, go to www.CollaborativeLawNH.org.

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