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.
St. Louis, Missouri Collaborative Law Attorney
Collaborative law is a relatively new way to resolve disputes. It is similar to mediation in many respects but provides couples with the added incentive of having to find new lawyers if they cannot settle their differences outside of court.
Founded in 1972, The Marks Law Firm, L.L.C. has helped many couples in the St. Louis metropolitan area and surrounding portions of Missouri and Illinois to end their marriages quietly, with dignity and at a fraction of the cost of litigation by using the collaborative law approach. Visit our collaborative law Web page to learn more about how our law firm can help you resolve your differences together. Or, contact us to schedule an initial consultation.
Thank you for contacting The Marks Law Firm, L.L.C. Your message has been sent.
Call us now
or use the form below.
Can the collaborative law approach to divorce work for you? For answers to your questions, information about this increasingly popular way to resolve disputes, a consultation and more — call or contact The Marks Law Firm, L.L.C. in St. Louis, Missouri.
The Marks Law Firm L.L.C. uses collaborative law to resolve divorce cases and other family law disputes for people in the St. Louis area and surrounding portions of Missouri and Illinois. For experience when it matters the most — call the firm directly at 314-993-6300.
The Development of Collaborative Law
Processes similar to collaborative law have been around a long time. In fact, the processes lawyers use in criminal law, juvenile law and child protective services have their roots in practices that incorporate many of the principles now enshrined in collaborative law. Consult a skilled collaborative attorney from The Marks Law Firm, L.L.C in St. Louis, Missouri to discuss the advantages of the collaborative approach in your legal matter.
The practice of collaborative law is new to the legal system. However, other types of practices that focus on removing the parties from adversarial proceedings and emphasize healing and party-initiated problem-solving have been in use for much longer. The following list provides some examples of precursors to collaborative law. These methods helped influence the eventual development of collaborative practices.
· Conferencing Circles
Conferencing circles attempt to make the victim, offender and society whole. Everyone with primary or secondary interests in the outcome of the case is included in the conference. The facilitator brings out all the issues for the group to discuss. Using a consensus approach, the group then comes up with a plan for resolution. Victims are allowed to confront their offenders, providing a sense of closure.
· Victim-Offender Mediation/Victim-Offender Reconciliation Program (VOM/VORP)
VOM/VORP meetings are most often used in violent crimes to give the victim a human face. The victim, offender and a trained mediator attend the meeting. Participants report that VOM/VORP provides a forum for healing to take place.
· Victim Impact Panels
Victim impact panels provide offenders with an opportunity to meet the people whom they have harmed with their actions. Many communities have instituted victim impact panels as part of drunk-driving reduction strategies.
· Family Group Conferencing/Family Group Decision-Making
This restorative practice is often used by Child Protective Services (CPS) to develop a plan for keeping the child in the home after accusations of abuse and maltreatment. The parents, child and any other family members integral to the child's life meet with social workers to create the plan, with a focus on providing support and education to the parents and creating a safe environment for the child.
· Problem-Solving Courts
The phrase "problem-solving courts" refers to court interventions that focus on the underlying chronic behaviors of criminal defendants. For example, drug courts are devoted to drug-related crimes, often involving addiction. Thus, the purpose of a drug court program is to get at the underlying addiction. Criminal sanctions are used as a means to compel compliance with addiction treatment. The judge usually works with a team of treatment providers, social workers, probation officers and other law enforcement officers.
Conclusion
Collaborative processes are being introduced to an ever-increasing range of legal issues - from family law issues to criminal matters to civil cases. Clients and attorneys have begun to realize that legal matters can be resolved in a more collective, positive environment than traditional legal processes may provide. Contact The Marks Law Firm, L.L.C in St. Louis, Missouri today to speak with an attorney about the collaborative law process. He or she can evaluate your case and discuss how this method may benefit you.
Copyright ©2009 FindLaw, a Thomson Business
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.
