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Collaborative Law

Collaborative Law Association of the Rochester Area, Inc.
The Collaborative Law Association of the Rochester Area, Inc. states: “All acknowledge that the essence of “Collaborative Law” is the shared belief by the participants that it is in the best interests of parties and their families in typical family law matters to commit themselves to avoiding litigation. Therefore, they adopt this conflict resolution process, which does not rely on a court-imposed resolution, but relies on an atmosphere of honesty, cooperation, integrity and professionalism geared toward the future well-being of the family.

The goal is to minimize, if not eliminate, the negative economic, social, and emotional consequences of protracted litigation to the participants and their families. The participants commit themselves to the collaborative law process and agree to seek a better way to resolve differences justly and equitably.”

International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, Inc.
IACP is the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, an international community of legal, mental health and financial professionals working in concert to create client-centered processes for resolving conflict.
Stories about People Who Chose Collaborative Divorce

Divorce Magazine has a recent blog post about couples who chose collaborative law.

Collaborative Divorce Knowledge Kit
This free information packet download was created by the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP) as a tool to educate you about Collaborative Practice. The PDF format can safely be downloaded onto your hard drive and emailed, or it can be printed as a concise hard copy.
Collaborative Divorce Could Be Society’s Wave of the Future

CBS News recently recently published an article highlighting the growing trend of collaborative law.

"Collaborative Divorce: The Revolutionary New Way to Restructure Your Family, Resolve Legal Issues, and Move on with Your Life"

This book contains information for couples considering collaborative divorce.

"The Collaborative Way to Divorce: The Revolutionary Method that Results in Less Stress, Lower Costs, and Happier Kids–Without Going to Court"

This book offers insight to couples considering collaborative divorce.

"Difficult Conversations, How to Discuss What Matters Most"
This book can be found here. “We attempt or avoid difficult conversations every day-whether dealing with an underperforming employee, disagreeing with a spouse, or negotiating with a client. From the Harvard Negotiation Project, the organization that brought you Getting to Yes, Difficult Conversations provides a step-by-step approach to having those tough conversations with less stress and more success.”
"Getting Past No, Negotiating in Difficult Situations"
We all want to get to yes, but what happens when the other person keeps saying no? How can you negotiate successfully with a stubborn boss, an irate customer, or a deceitful coworker? In Getting Past No, William Ury of Harvard Law School’s Program on Negotiation offers a proven breakthrough strategy for turning adversaries into negotiating partners.

Divorce Mediation

New York State Council on Divorce Mediation

The New York State Council on Divorce Mediation (NYSCDM) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the highest professional standards of divorce mediation. Among its services to the community, NYSCDM works actively to promote family wellness by increasing public awareness of mediation as the preferred process for divorce.

The goal is to minimize, if not eliminate, the negative economic, social, and emotional consequences of protracted litigation to the participants and their families. The participants commit themselves to the collaborative law process and agree to seek a better way to resolve differences justly and equitably.”

Academy of Professional Family Mediators

When the field of “Mediation” was emerging, a succession of national organizations also emerged to bring together professionals who had like-minded approaches to conflict. The first such organization was the FAMILY MEDIATION ASSOCIATION (FMA), which was founded in 1975 by O.J. “Jim” Coogler and several of his colleagues. Coogler’s book, Structured Mediation in Divorce Settlement, was the very first book published in the field of divorce mediation. The second organization, The ACADEMY OF FAMILY MEDIATORS, (AFM), was founded in 1981 by John Haynes, Steve Erickson, and other colleagues, and it became the primary national membership association of family mediators in the U.S. At first, AFM provided divorce mediation training, in order to raise seed money to get the organization started. By the mid-1980s, AFM had an Executive Director (Jim Melamed), and a newsletter (Mediation News) and journal (Mediation Quarterly), which were benefits for all members. By the mid-1990s, AFM had grown to a membership of 4000 plus.

Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR)

The Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR) is a professional organization enhancing the practice and public understanding of conflict resolution.

The goal is to minimize, if not eliminate, the negative economic, social, and emotional consequences of protracted litigation to the participants and their families. The participants commit themselves to the collaborative law process and agree to seek a better way to resolve differences justly and equitably.”

The New York State Dispute Resolution Association (NYSDRA)

The New York State Dispute Resolution Association, Inc. (NYSDRA) is a not-for-profit membership organization committed to the promotion of quality conflict management and peaceful dispute resolution. Through leadership, education, promotion of professional standards and training and development of innovative statewide programs, NYSDRA provides opportunities for people, communities, organizations and businesses to effectively respond to conflict.

The goal is to minimize, if not eliminate, the negative economic, social, and emotional consequences of protracted litigation to the participants and their families. The participants commit themselves to the collaborative law process and agree to seek a better way to resolve differences justly and equitably.”

Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC)

AFCC is the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts – the premier interdisciplinary and international association of professionals dedicated to the resolution of family conflict. AFCC members are the leading practitioners, researchers, teachers and policymakers in the family court arena.

The goal is to minimize, if not eliminate, the negative economic, social, and emotional consequences of protracted litigation to the participants and their families. The participants commit themselves to the collaborative law process and agree to seek a better way to resolve differences justly and equitably.”

Mersereau Law Office offers Mediation and Collaborative Law via online video conferencing.

585-377-5487

Mersereau Law Office, PLLC
150 Allens Creek Rd., Suite 160
Rochester, NY 14618

Mersereau Law Office, PLLC
351 S. Warren St., Suite 200
Syracuse, NY 13202

Contact Mersereau Law Office, PLLC today for a prompt review of your options. Julie Mersereau can help you make the most informed decisions for what legal or mediation crossroads may be ahead. Virtual and remote consultation is available, as well as full-on virtual mediation and collaborative law services.