What to look for when choosing a professional

  • Discipline: collaborative teams typically include a lawyer for each party plus a financial and/or communication professional. Your first contact is usually a collaboratively trained lawyer or a coach.
  • Experience: look for professionals who have completed at least the standard collaborative training (minimum 14 hours) and ideally have experience in your type of dispute.
  • Location: while many meetings now occur online, some clients prefer in-person sessions, particularly for sensitive matters.
  • Specialty: for wills and estates matters, look specifically for professionals with advanced collaborative training in that area.

What to expect at a first consultation

At your first meeting, the professional will explain how collaborative practice works, assess whether it is suitable for your situation, and answer your questions. There is no obligation to proceed. Many people find even this initial conversation reassuring.