The Comprehensive Law Movement

Many people intrigued by the concept of mediation are unwilling or hesitant to proceed without an attorney, even with a neutral mediator present. Collaborative law offers a cooperative forum and yet retains the protections of individual representation. Contact an attorney experienced in collaborative law at our firm today to discuss your case.

Using Collaborative Law to Solve Family Law Problems

Collaborative law can produce mutually satisfying solutions without the emotional conflict and expense of traditional divorce negotiation and litigation. The process gives the parties control over the outcome, produces more predictable results and can build a framework for future cooperative problem solving.

Attorney Sue Brown uses the techniques of collaborative law and mediation exclusively because she believes they provide families with the best means for navigating transitions in a positive way. Mediation and collaborative practice focus on solutions for the future, rather than problems of the past.

Some basic information about collaborative law appears below. You probably have additional questions about your situation.

If you would like to learn more about the collaborative law process, call 888-855-8063 toll free or send an e-mail to schedule an appointment with lawyer Sue Brown.

Located in Chapel Hill, the firm serves clients in The Triangle and elsewhere in North Carolina.

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Sue Brown is a mediator certified by the State Dispute Resolution Commission and has received special training in mediation techniques and the collaborative law process.

While the primary application of collaborative law is to achieve separation and divorce agreements, the technique can also be applied to post-divorce matters such as child custody, visitation and child support.

Collaborative law is often considered to be one component of the comprehensive law movement. The comprehensive law movement views law from an all-inclusive, holistic perspective. Rather than simply looking at what is going on in this particular case, the comprehensive law view attempts to see beyond the short-term outcome to the long-term effects the case may have on the parties involved. For more information, contact an attorney with experience in collaborative law from A Fresh Start Mediation in Chapel Hill, North Carolina today.

Philosophy Rather Than Process

The comprehensive law movement is a philosophy rather than a process. Attorneys and clients who believe in this philosophy, however, are more likely to look for collaborative processes for resolving matters with which they are confronted.

Therapeutic Jurisprudence

One of the philosophies of the comprehensive law movement is therapeutic jurisprudence. This philosophy focuses on the impact of the law on the emotional and psychological well-being of those involved. It looks at all aspects of law as a social force that can produce either therapeutic or non-therapeutic results and focuses on resolutions that will produce the highest level of therapy to the parties involved.

Transformative Law

Transformative law is another element of the comprehensive law movement. According to this perspective, conflict is produced by the imbalance of the parties' relationships with each other and with themselves. Such imbalance causes both parties to feel defenseless and thus more self-involved than before the dispute arose. Since these negative processes feed each other as the parties interact, a vicious cycle develops creating feelings that are even more negative. The transformative law philosophy focuses on party empowerment and recognition as a means of restoring this balance.

Holistic Law

Holistic law attempts to take all of the client's circumstances into account to create a long-term plan to address these issues, rather than focus only on the pending legal matter. This may include helping clients obtain assistance for mental health or substance abuse problems or helping clients secure social services. Holistic practices can take many forms. Attorneys may incorporate collaborative approaches as a means to resolve their client's issues or use other methods to reach the same ends.

Conclusion

While the comprehensive law movement may manifest itself in many forms with somewhat different focal points, those forms always seek ways to improve the lives of all involved in the legal system, whether as practitioners or as consumers. Contact an experienced collaborative law attorney from A Fresh Start Mediation in Chapel Hill, North Carolina to learn more about the available alternatives to litigation.

DISCLAIMER: This site and any information contained herein are intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Seek competent legal counsel for advice on any legal matter.

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