A better way to practise law, and to serve your clients

Why collaborative professionals choose this path

The professionals we work with consistently describe collaborative practice as more rewarding than their conventional work. Here is what they say:

• It produces better outcomes for clients: resolutions that reflect real priorities, not just legal positions
• It preserves relationships that matter: — families can still attend the same school events and weddings
• It is less adversarial and less stressful: for clients and for the professionals themselves
• It is genuinely interdisciplinary: — lawyers work alongside financial and mental health professionals as equals
• It differentiates your practice: a growing number of clients actively seek out collaborative professionals

As board member Aileen Slattery says: “It is a positive, future-focused process that allows couples to separate with dignity and respect and allows the professional team to work in a respectful, trustful, and collegiate way. It can’t get better than that”.

Who can join?

Collaborative practice is interdisciplinary. CP (NSW/ACT) members come from:

• Family law: lawyers and barristers who act as collaborative lawyers in family law matters
• Elder law, wills and estates law: collaborative lawyers who advise and assist with estate planning and estate disputes
• Financial services: financial planners and advisers who act as financial neutrals in property settlements
• Mental health and social work: psychologists, social workers, mediators, family therapists, and FDRPs who act as communication coaches and child consultants
• Commercial law: lawyers who bring collaborative practice to business, employment, and contract disputes
• Forensic accounting: accountants and business valuers who contribute financial expertise to commercial matters

Joining a community, not just an organisation

CP (NSW/ACT) is a community as much as a professional body. Members gather regularly for CPD events, practice group meetings, and networking. The collaborative model means lawyers, financial professionals, and mental health practitioners work alongside each other in ways that are unusual in the legal world. Our members tell us that the professional relationships they build through CP (NSW/ACT) are among the most valued in their careers.