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
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
Topic: CLI New Collaborative Experience Tune-up Training
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 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
Date: September 7, 2023
Time: 9:00 AM – 12 Noon
Location: 3300 Edinborough Way, Edina, MN 55435 | First floor training room
Fee: $0
Food: Light snacks and refreshments
CE: None
Materials: Provided at the training
Speakers: Training Committee members based on results of survey
Training Committee Chairs:
Louise Livesay-Al | louise@livesaylawoffice.com
Rebecca Randen | rebecca@rcglawoffice.com
For questions on registration contact: Sandy Beeson: cli@collaborativlaw.org
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- pro se/unrepresented where you go through the process without legal guidance;
- mediation where a neutral third party helps you come up with the agreements;
- collaborative divorce where both parties commit to a respectful out of court process with lawyers and other professionals guiding the process; and
- litigation, the court-based traditional process. A good consultation should educate you on all of these options.
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