Calling Collaborative Lawyers to the Kootenays

Today, I found myself wondering, as I often do, why there are no other collaborative lawyers besides me living in the East or West Kootenays. I am passionate about collaborative practice. So far, in the West Kootenay about 100 couples have used the collaborative way to resolve their legal issues at Resolution Place. I am involved with the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals. But I can’t offer collaborative practice to my home community by myself. The process requires each party to have their own collaborative lawyer. So, we import Vancouver lawyer, Danny Zack, here to Nelson to work on almost every collaborative case we have in the Kootenays.

Not every lawyer is suitable to be a collaborative lawyer. As a lawyer, I must absolutely trust the collaborative lawyer with whom I sign a Participation Agreement. Danny’s the best. I love working with Danny, who has been practising law for about 40 years. Danny is considered by many to be the British Columbia guru of collaborative practice. I am grateful to have the opportunity to hone my collaborative legal skills on every case I work on here in Nelson, by working with Danny, who perhaps is the most experienced collaborative lawyer in British Columbia.

Together Danny and I work, in every collaborative case, to create a safe place where our clients can negotiate their legal issues. With Danny, it is easy to help our clients find that safe zone. It is an honour and a pleasure to work with Danny. But, it would be more convenient and less expensive for our clients if there were other collaborative lawyers resident here in the Nelson area.

I have been offering collaborative practise through my Nelson law firm for almost 10 years now. Where are you other collaborative lawyers? Working in a collaborative way with my learned friends is so much more satisfying than working against them through litigation.

Collaborative practice is a better way to practise law. It’s easier on the lawyer’s health. Perhaps, part of the reason for the absence of other collaborative lawyers around here is that there is an overall shortage of lawyers in rural British Columbia, period. That’s why the CBA has the R.E.A.L program, where several rural lawyers are paid each summer to employ a third year law student with the hopes that student will see the obvious merits of practising law in a rural community, and return to work after completing law school. Rural lawyers’ plates are full, why would they want to stop work to retrain as collaborative lawyers?

Maybe it’s because collaborative practice is, after all, contrary to what we lawyers learn at law school, which is to “position” our clients. Danny and I work hard together at helping our clients avoid getting entrenched in positions, and instead to focus on creating solution options that try to meet the needs, values and interest of each person affected by the decisions being made.

Are there any good collaborative lawyers out there who would love to have a rewarding and interesting career as a collaborative lawyer here in Nelson, British Columbia, the Queen City of the Kootenays, surely one of the most beautiful places on earth? Your fascinating and rewarding collaborative law practice may be waiting for you here on the shores of Kootenay Lake. Come co-mediate with me.

Namaste

Susan Kurtz

Collaborative Lawyer Nelson, BC

From Blame to Resolution

Collaborative Law Group of Nelson
The court system is set up to find fault and lay blame. But the legal issues that arise when a couple separate have nothing to do with finding fault. Are you ready to move from blame to resolution?

The two basic legal issues following an uncoupling are: what do we do about the children, and, how do we divide our property and debt? Because pointing fingers and laying blame are not helpful exercises in determining these legal issues, the courtroom is probably not the best place to resolve issues concerning children or property after a separation. The Collaborative Process allows you to find mutually acceptable resolutions to the legal issues, in a kind and respectful way, without creating even more anxiety and stress for you, your children and your former spouse.

Visit the Collaborative Law Group of Nelson web site.

Collaborative Law Group of Nelson

The Collaborative Law Group of Nelson offers a healthy and dignified no court solution to divorce and other civil disputes to the residents of the East and West Kootenays, including Nelson, Castlegar, Trail, Salmo, Nakusp, Slocan, Creston, Kaslo, Silverton, New Denver and Rossland.

We are a group of independent professional lawyers, counsellors, financial advisors and child specialists who are all highly skilled mediators and trained at working together collaboratively to provide you and your family assistance when you need it most, that is, when you are moving through a family transition. We join professional Collaborative Practice Groups that have now formed in every major centre throughout North America and Europe so that the residents of the East and West Kootenay have available in the local area The Collaborative Way to Divorce, a concept created by Stuart G. Webb and Ronald D. Ousky in 1999, and now a book by the same name.

Visit the Collaborative Law Group of Nelson web site for more information.

Collaborative Law Group of Nelson

What is a collaborative practice group?

A collaborative practice group is a group of lawyers and other helping professionals who have formed a connection so that they can collectively offer you a team approach to dispute resolution. It’s best for opposing parties to retain two lawyers who have worked together for opposite parties and have a proven record of success. You can find two such lawyers in a Collaborative Practice Group. Visit our links page to find Collaborative Practice groups everywhere.

Collaborative lawyers are interested in helping opposing parties reach mutually acceptable terms of a legally enforceable Separation Agreement.

Collaborative Law Group of Nelson
Nelson, BC Canada

No Court Divorce

Did you know?

• You can apply for a no court divorce after you have reached the terms of a Separation Agreement through the collaborative divorce process.
  
• Alternative dispute resolution is about find solutions rather than proving who is right.

The Collaborative Law Group of Nelson offer a no court alternative for dispute resolution, including separation and divorce, to the residents of the Kootenays in British Columbia. Visit our site at NoCourt.ca for more information.