Top Collaborative Law Trainers Coming to Birmingham Through Efforts of Local Divorce Professionals

Birmingham, AL, July 16, 2011 --(PR.com)-- Collaborative law provides a private, voluntary, no-court option for resolving divorce and other family-related disputes that is utilized by parties who prefer to avoid the costs and stress of litigation. The collaborative process provides a method for respectful and open discussion of issues designed to generate creative solutions and compromise in the interests of all concerned. Everyone involved – both spouses and their attorneys – pledge not to litigate, but to work together to settle the case by agreement. The collaborative process is client-centered, more predictable and allows the parties to have more control of the cost. In addition, parties can engage the services of specially-trained neutral financial analysts, child specialists or coaches to work with them and their attorneys in coming to a resolution.

“As a family law practitioner, I want to provide my clients the option to move through the divorce process as efficiently and respectfully as possible. For most clients, divorce is their first personal encounter with the American judicial system and they find it confusing and scary, an added stress they are ill-equipped to handle at such an emotional time in their lives. By providing clients with access to a collaborative process, we can work with them to minimize stress and conflict and help them to be better prepared for their transition to post-divorce life,” said Frances Ross Nolan, JD, BCA President. “The collaborative process is particularly beneficial to couples with minor children who understand that divorce does not mark the end of their need to co-parent,” she added.

The training will be held on September 15, 16 and 17, 2011 at First Church in downtown Birmingham. Led by Pauline Tesler, a collaborative divorce attorney, psychologist Peggy Thompson and Lisa Schneider, a certified divorce financial analyst, the training will offer professionals in the legal, mental health and financial fields the opportunity to become certified collaborative practitioners. Tesler and Thompson are the authors of Collaborative Divorce: The Revolutionary New Way to Restructure Your Family, Resolve Legal Issues, and Move on With Your Life (Harper Collins, 2006).

The Birmingham Collaborative Alliance was recently formed to serve as a training and development group for local collaborative professionals. The Family Law Section of the Alabama State Bar is a statewide practice group for family law practitioners.

For more information and to register for the upcoming training, visit the BCA website at www.birminghamcollaborative.com.

Additional informationabout collaborative law is available at www.collaborativepractice.com.

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