Date: Thursday, November 21, 2024
Title: Evaluation Services provided at Metropolitan Rehabilitation Services
Presenter: Dr. Justin M. King, PsyD., LP, CRC, D/ABVE
Metropolitan Rehabilitation Services
info@metrorehab.org | Ph: 612-333-2155 | www.metrorehab.org/
Description of Program:
Metropolitan Rehabilitation Services provides a variety of evaluations to diverse clientele outside of the marital dissolution venue.  This presentation will review the evaluation procedure for dissolution referrals and also discuss the variety of services we provide which can intersect with divorce proceedings.
Time:    
11:45 AM Attendees begin to login
11:55 AM Announcements and introductions
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Presentation
Cost:     
CLI Members and non-members: $25
CLI Student Members, CLI Emeritus Members: $0
CLI Annual Partners: $0
Continuing Education:  
1.0 credit PENDING MN CLE
Certificate of attendance for self-filing for MN Psych BOD, LMFT, LICSW & ADR.
Cancellation: Refunds for registration will be processed if notice of cancellation is received by 11/15/24.
Educational Level: Overview
Training Committee Chairs:
Louise Livesay-Al | louise@livesaylawoffice.com
Rebecca Randen | rebecca@rcglawoffice.com
For questions on registration contact: 
Sandy Beeson: cli@collaborativlaw.org

Some of us from the southern regional group are going to participate in a 5K on Saturday Sept 14 at Cleary Lake in Prior Lake, MN. We would love to have others join us to walk or run. Families welcome!  Hopefully it will be a beautiful fall day!

This event benefits youth mental health which aligns well with Collaborative – when people separate more peacefully it benefits children’s health & well-being!
More Information:
https://www.neverpeakproducts.com/event-details/3rd-annual-be-happy-5k

CLI Contacts:
Email Adina (adina@elanheathtc.org) or Kirstina (kquast@kqconsult.com) if you are interested in joining us!

 

What: CLI Minnesota Forum 2024
Theme: Curate the Future: Elevating Client Experience with Care
Dates & Times:
Thursday, December 12, 2024
8:30 AM – 4:00 PM Educational sessions, time with exhibitors. Continental breakfast, lunch buffet, dessert bar, social hour appetizers, plated dinner.
4:00 PM Happy Hour
6:00 PM Dinner
7:30 PM AJW Fun Factor
Friday, December 13, 2024
8:00 AM – 12:30 PM Continental breakfast, Annual Meeting, educational sessions.
Full Agenda: Linked Here
Location: Delta Marriott NE | 1330 Industrial Blvd. NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413

Menu:
THURSDAY
Breakfast Buffet:
Assorted fruit juices, seasonal fruit and whole fruit, oatmeal, scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage links, breakfast potatoes, sourdough French toast, and baked muffins, Danishes & croissants.
Lunch Buffet: Salad Bar – seasonal dependent romaine crisp mix, spring lettuce blend, bell peppers, sweet tomatoes, cucumber slices, carrot shreds, diced eggs, broccoli florets, chickpeas, shredded cheddar, dried cranberries, mixed nuts/seeds, rotisserie chicken, buttermilk ranch dressing, trench dressing, balsamic vinaigrette.
Lunch Cheesecake Bar
Happy Hour Appetizers: Spanakopita, Chicken Satay, Charcuterie Block
Dinner: Garden Salad, entrée sides: Caramelized Broccoli with garlic, Herb Roasted Baby Red Potatoes, Dessert: Chocolate Decadence
Choice of Entrée:

  • Mison Mustard Chicken | Served with miso mustard sauce
  • Pecan Crusted Walleye | Served with lemon dill beurre blanc
  • Braised Beef Short Ribs | Balsamic demi glace
  • For Vegetarian selection only. Quinoa Power Bowl | Avocado, mango, black beans, red bell pepper, jalapeno, chipotle lime vinaigrette                

FRIDAY
Breakfast Buffet: Assorted fruit juices seasonal fruit & berries naked fruit smoothies, freshly baked muffins, Danishes & croissants butter, honey & preserves, bagels & cream cheese, house made granola, assorted cereal, 2% & skim milk assorted fruit and Greek yogurt.

Cost:
CLI members must login to their online account to receive member pricing.
Requested hotel room are included in the attendance fee and will be booked by CLI.

  1. Both Days. With dinner. With hotel room:
    Includes both Thursday & Friday Sessions
    Includes Thursday Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
    Includes Thursday Evening Entertainment
    Includes Friday Breakfast
    Member: $475
    Non-member: $550
  2. Both days. With dinner. No hotel room:
    Includes both Thursday & Friday Sessions
    Includes Thursday Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
    Includes Thursday Evening Entertainment
    Includes Friday Breakfast
    Member: $425
    Non-member: $500
  3. Both days. No dinner. No hotel room:
    Includes both Thursday & Friday Sessions
    Includes Thursday Breakfast, Lunch
    Includes Friday Breakfast
    Member: $395
    Non-member: $450
  4. Thursday only. With dinner. No hotel room:
    Includes Thursday Sessions
    Includes Thursday Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
    Includes Thursday Evening Entertainment
    Member: $235
    Non-member: $275
  5. Thursday only. No dinner. No hotel room:
    Includes Thursday Sessions
    Includes Thursday Breakfast & lunch
    Member: $200
    Non-member: $255
  6. Thursday dinner only
    Member & Nonmember: $60
  7. Friday Only:
    Includes Friday Sessions
    Includes Friday Breakfast
    Member: $150
    Non-member: $225

Continuing Education: (See agenda for specific credits)

  • CLE: 8 Standard credits pending.
  • LMFT & MN Board of Psychology: 8 Standard credits pending.
  • LICSW & ADR: A self-filing certificate will be provided 8 credits possible.

Deadlines, Cancellations, Parking

  • Deadline for registration with a hotel room is November 15.
    We can only guarantee an overnight room at the Hotel for the first 35 registrants, so please register EARLY!
  • The deadline for Forum registration without a hotel is November 27
  • Refunds for Forum registration cancellation will be processed if notice of cancellation is received on or before November 15.
  • While the room rate is included in the Forum attendance fee, attendees will be responsible for incidental charges to their reserved room.
  • Hotel check-in is 3PM. Luggage may be checked with the valet.
  • Check-out time is 11AM.
  • Parking: Parking free in the surface lot in front of the hotel.

Sponsorships are available for the Annual Forum. Click here to see the options and confirm and pay online.

If you have questions on registration or sponsorship, please call or email CLI Minnesota Admin Sandy Beeson at 952.405.2010 or cli@collaborativelaw.org

CLI Forum 2024 Committee Chair: Rebecca Randen| rebecca@randenlaw.com
Committee Members: Deb Clemmensen, Janna Hefty, Judy Johnson Gay Rosenthal

FORUM 2024 SPONSORS

Speaker Sponsor | The Law Shop
Louise Livesay | www.thelawshopmn.com/

Forum Packet Sponsor | Lear Appraisals, LLC
Bob Lear | LearAppraisals@popp.net

Lunch Sponsor | Cultivating Joy
Jillan Lydell | www.cultivatingjoycoach.com/

Happy Hour Sponsor | XBrezzo
Colin Sharp | www.xbrezzo.com/

Happy Hour Appetizer Sponsor | Deb Clemmensen
Deborah Clemmensen, M.Eq., L.P. | www.deborahclemmensen.com

Forum Evening Social Sponsor | AJW Financial, Inc.
Amy Wolff | www.ajwfinancial.com/

CLI MINNESOTA ANNUAL PARTNERS
WWW.collaborativelaw.org/supporting-partners-2/

Annual Platinum Partner
Rainbow Mortgage, Inc. www.rainbowmortgageinc.com | Dave Jamison

Annual Gold Partners
OurFamilyWizard www.ourfamilywizard.com | Racheal Howitz
The Prudden Company www.pruddencompany.com | Amber Tyrrell
ReMax Results www.ShannonLindstromRealtor.com | Shannon Lindstrom

Annual Silver Sponsors
Resource Mortgage, LLC www.mortgageforest.com/ | Brett Leschinsky
Edina Realty www.edinarealty.com/jennifer-morris-realtor# | Jennifer Morris
Baker Vicchiollo Law LLC www.bvlfirm.com/ | Jolene Baker Vicchiollo

The CLI MN East Metro Group invites you to join their Happy Hour on Thursday June 13 from 4 – 6:30 pm

Emily and Daniel were in love. Their love story had once been the envy of the neighborhood—a whirlwind romance that blossomed into a marriage filled with laughter, shared dreams, and whispered secrets. But as the years went by, cracks appeared in their fairy tale. After years of therapy, divorce was agreed upon as the next step.

At a local coffee shop, Emily consulted with Susan, an attorney who specialized in collaborative divorce, a path less traveled but one that promised healing rather than heartache.

“Emily,” Susan began, “I know this is tough. But have you considered a collaborative divorce?”

Emily sipped her latte, her eyes tracing the steam rising from the cup. “What’s that?”

Susan leaned in, her voice soft. “It’s a different approach. Instead of battling it out in court, we assemble a team—a dream team, if you will.”

Emily raised an eyebrow. “A dream team?”

“Yes,” Susan said. “Picture this: You, Daniel, and your respective attorneys. But that’s not all. We also bring in a neutral facilitator—a wise soul who guides conversations and ensures emotions don’t derail the process. And a financial expert—they’re like wizards with spreadsheets, helping us untangle the financial knots.”

Emily’s curiosity piqued. “And what’s the goal?”

“To find common ground,” Susan replied. “We sit around a table, not a courtroom. We talk, we listen, and we create solutions together. No winners or losers—just a fair resolution.”

Meanwhile, across town, Daniel met with his attorney, Ethan, who had an established divorce litigation practice. The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting shadows on the carpet.

“Daniel,” Ethan said, adjusting his tie, “we’re going to court. It’s the way things are done.  We serve her, file the papers and start the process of hearings.”

“But what about Emily?” Daniel asked. “We used to love each other. Can’t we find a better way?”

Ethan sighed. “This is how it works with divorce.  We’ll request documents, hold depositions as needed, and present evidence. It’s a battle my friend.”

Daniel remembered the nights he’d held Emily as she cried. He wanted closure, not combat. Maybe Susan’s dream team was worth exploring.

Back at the coffee shop, Susan continued her pitch. “Emily, collaborative divorce is cost-effective. No endless court appearances, no billable hours stacking up. Plus, it’s faster.”

“But what if Daniel refuses?” Emily asked.

Susan smiled. “We’ll encourage him. And if he agrees, we’ll craft a customized settlement—one that considers your needs and the kids’ well-being.”

Back in Ethan’s office, Ethan faced Daniel. “We’ll fight for your rights, Daniel.”

Daniel glanced at Ethan’s stern face. He thought of Emily, their shared memories, and the pain they both carried. Maybe there was another way.

Emily and Daniel stood at the crossroads, their hearts heavy with choices.

The Collaborative Path:

  • A team of allies.
  • Solutions born from dialogue.
  • Healing over hurting.

The Traditional Path:

  • Adversaries in court.
  • Evidence and arguments.
  • Winners and losers.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Emily and Daniel made their decision. They chose the dream team—the path of collaboration. And in that choice, they found not just a divorce, but a chance to rewrite their story.

When life hands you a divorce, consider the roads less traveled. Sometimes, the dream team can turn heartbreak into hope.

Disclaimer: The characters and events in this story are fictional. Any resemblance to real persons or situations is purely coincidental.

Note: This story is a creative representation of collaborative and traditional divorce. Seek legal advice from a professional attorney for personalized guidance.

This story was created in part with the use of artificial intelligence and in part by attorney Angela Heart.

Angela Heart | Attorney
Angela is a collaborative family law attorney at Heart Law, LLC. Her mission is to enable and empower divorcing couples to have a smooth transition that is family focused during a life changing event. To find more information about Heart Law go to 
www.heartlaw.net.

Heart Law, LLC
651-337-1333 | angela@heartlaw.net
www.heartlaw.net

 

 

In recent years, how we handle many of life’s pivotal moments, including the sensitive divorce process, has shifted dramatically. The introduction of tools like Zoom into the collaborative divorce process has transformed how meetings are conducted and brought many benefits to clients. Let’s explore how this technological shift has significantly impacted clients through the lens of hypothetical client experiences.

The Time-Saver
Meet Sarah and John, who decided to part ways after a decade of marriage. With demanding careers and a busy family life, finding time for numerous meetings took a lot of work. The adoption of Zoom for their collaborative divorce process was a game-changer. They could attend sessions from the comfort of their home, saving valuable time otherwise spent traveling to and from meetings. This convenience allowed them to approach each session with a clearer mind, focusing on the matters at hand rather than the stress of commuting.

The Comfort of Distance
Then there’s the story of Emma and Alex. Sitting next to each other in a professional office would heighten their emotional stress, making productive communication challenging. Zoom provided a much-needed physical buffer. By attending sessions from separate locations, they found themselves more relaxed and able to communicate effectively. This emotional comfort translated into a more focused approach to resolving their issues.

Access to Specialized Professionals
Consider the case of Mia and Carlos. They had specific needs: Mia wanted a financial expert, while Carlos sought guidance on parenting plans. Previously, they were restricted to professionals in their immediate area. Zoom opened up a state-wide pool of experts. They were able to engage with a financial advisor from the suburbs and a parenting expert from St. Paul, each bringing specialized knowledge to the table.

The Long-Distance Couple
Finally, there’s Rachel and Tom, who were already living in different cities when they decided to divorce. For them, arranging in-person meetings was nearly impossible. Zoom made it feasible for them to engage in the collaborative process without the need for travel. This was particularly beneficial for Tom, who also frequently traveled for work and could join the sessions from anywhere, ensuring continuity in their proceedings.

The Bigger Picture
These stories highlight the flexibility and accessibility that Zoom has brought to the collaborative divorce process. Clients are no longer bound by geographical limitations or the constraints of traditional office hours. The comfort of attending from a familiar environment reduces stress, allowing for more productive discussions. The physical separation provided by virtual meetings can lower emotional intensity, fostering a more amicable environment for negotiation.

Moreover, this shift isn’t just beneficial for the clients. Professionals, too, have found that they can offer their services more broadly, reaching clients they wouldn’t have otherwise. It’s a win-win situation where expertise is now unrestricted by location.

Integrating Zoom meetings into the collaborative divorce process is more than a response to a world increasingly reliant on digital solutions. It’s a thoughtful adaptation to the needs of those going through one of life’s most challenging transitions, offering a sense of control, comfort, and accessibility that was previously hard to achieve with in-person meetings. As technologies continue to improve, it’s exciting to see how our ways of meeting with clients will continue to evolve.

Carl Arnold is an experienced family law attorney and mediator. He currently focuses his practice on Family Law Mediation and Collaborative Divorce. His office is in Northfield, Minnesota and he works with people from all over the state using Zoom. Carl has been a long-time member of the Collaborative Law Institute of Minnesota.

Arnold Law and Mediation LLC
Attorney/Mediator
507-786-9999
carl@arnoldlawmediation.com
www.arnoldlawmediation.com

Topic: CLI New Collaborative Experience Training Tune-up
Date: September 12, 2024
Time: 9:00 AM – 12 Noon
Location: Virtual on Zoom (This is a change from the originally planned in-person location in Edina)

Description: Attendees of the New Collaborative Experience have had some time to think about working Collaborative practice into their businesses.  This session is a chance to come back and work on specific needs identified through a survey sent to trainees to help fill the gaps and refresh as needed.

In response to the survey (Click here to start the survey) from participants who attended the NCE we will be discussing:

  • Enrolling the Client
  • How to talk about Neutrals
  • How to get the spouse on board with CP
  • Paperwork needed for CP
  • Marketing
    *In case you have not completed the NCE Training Tune-up survey, here is the link

Fee: $0
CE: None
Materials: Provided to registered attendees in an email
Speakers: Training Committee members based on results of survey

Training Committee Chairs:
Louise Livesay-Al |  louise@livesaylawoffice.com
Rebecca Randen | rebecca@randenlaw.com

For questions on registration, contact: Sandy Beeson: cli@collaborativelaw.org

Thank you to our Annual Partner Sponsors for their continuing support of CLI! Click here to learn more about our Supporting Partners

Click here for details and to Register

Dates: (Three full-days total)
*Thursday, May 16, 2024
       *Happy Hour end of day Thursday scheduled for attendees at location TBD
Friday May 17, 2024
Thursday, May 23, 2024
Time: 8:30-4:30 (Detailed timing and agenda TBD)
Location: 3300 Edinborough Way, Edina, MN 55435, 1st Floor Training Room

Attendance Fees:
Not a member of CLI MN:

Non-CLI MN members: $595
Student – Not a member of CLI: $150
(Not a member? The NCE registration form will ask you if you would like to join CLI MN, prior to registering for the NCE training. Join CLI MN and attend at the Student member rate!)

Members of CLI MN:
CLI MN members who have NOT taken this training before:
 $300
CLI MN members who have taken this training but would like a refresher: $150 (Please email cli@collaborativelaw.org for your registration code for this pricing.)
CLI MN Student members: $0.00
CLI MN Emeritus and Annual Partners: $0.00

*Nonmembers will have the opportunity to join CLI prior to registering for the NCE Training.
**Discount Code: If you have a discount code to attend the training, you will enter it prior to checking out.

Continuing Education Credits: Pending approval of 18 Standard credits for: CLE, Board of Psychology, and LMFT. A certificate of attendance for self-filling of other credentials will also be provided.

Cancellation: Refunds for registration will be processed if notice of cancellation is received by Friday May 1, 2024

Description:
Day I: Training on collaborative practice principles and fundamentals, the roles of the professionals on the interdisciplinary team, the paradigm shift, protocols of practice, the road map to resolution, and ethics.
Day II:
 A demonstration of the collaborative model, one involving a neutral coach/facilitator through performances of 13 vignettes depicting a full-team collaborative case from start to almost finish. The vignettes will give detailed insight into the roles of the neutral coach/facilitator, both attorneys, the neutral child specialist, and the neutral financial professional. The different clients in the vignettes present the team with challenging legal, relational, financial, and parenting issues. The performance will be instructive, practical, and hopefully, inspirational. Day 2 is informative for the experienced collaborative practitioner as well as the new collaborative practitioner.
Day III: Focuses on completing a case, advocacy, and ethics in the Collaborative process, what happens when you hit bumps in the road, talking to clients about this process, connecting with your profession and resources to build your practice.

Educational Level: Advanced

Tune-Up Training: Date in September TBD, 9:00 AM – Noon will be based on a survey of attendees to learn where they feel additional instruction would be most helpful. (This follow-up session may or may not be additional CE credits.)

Training Committee Chairs:
Louise Livesay-Al | louise@livesaylawoffice.com
Rebecca Randen | rebecca@rcglawoffice.com

For questions on registration contact: Sandy Beeson: cli@collaborativlaw.org

 

Each year the incoming CLI board gathers the morning of the retreat to set goals and discuss action items for the coming year. Members are invited to then join the Board for for an afternoon session of discussion. The incoming President sets the agenda and direction of the full day retreat. Date: Friday, January 12, 2024 Location: Due to Snow warnings, the Board has switched the Retreat from in-person to VIRTUAL ONLY! ZOOM LOGIN: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89824064633 Meeting ID: 898 2406 4633 Time: Board Members login at 8:50 AM for 9AM meeting start. Members login at 1PM for Board and Members afternoon session. Fee: No fee to attend. Just login. Who should attend: Members and annual sponsors of CLI. For questions on registration contact: Sandy Beeson: cli@collaborativelaw.org or Judy Johnson | judith_h_johnson@hotmail.com