'Good divorce' possible with collaboration

7:00pm Monday 14th April 2008

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DAYS before a senior judge blamed society's ills on the breakdown of the family, part of the solution was launched in Bournemouth and Poole.

Mr Justice Coleridge accused the government of failing to stop the meltdown of British family life which is fuelling current drink, drugs and crime epidemics nationwide.

The High Court judge is a campaign-er for collaborative law - a revolutionary "win-win" approach for couples facing separation or divorce - which is now available locally.

Experienced family lawyers from different legal firms across Bournemouth, Poole and Lymington are now specially trained in collaborative law and have teamed up to offer the new service.

Collaborative law offers couples the chance to untangle their lives and assets without the need to step inside a court for distressing and expensive legal fisticuffs.

Already well established in the USA, collaborative law sees couples working together as a team aided by trained family lawyers to resolve disputes respectfully in a more civilised and holistic manner.

At a special launch held at Lester Aldridge in Bournemouth more than 50 legal professionals, therapists, accountants, child specialists and mediators heard about the new approach before watching a live role play showing collaborative law in action.

"We are putting down our adversarial swords and breast plates," said collaborative lawyer Richard Sharp, of Sharp Family Law.

"Using collaborative law it is possible to have a good divorce."

Jane Porter of Lester Aldridge LLP says the collaborative process offers clients an alternative route to resolving their disputes because they have control over the process and the outcome.

"In collaborative law solicitors' egos are put to one side and they co-operate with their opposite number to help couples reach a constructive and fair settlement in a more child focused manner," said collaborative lawyer Deborah Leask, of Ellis Jones.

"Family lawyers who do not offer this option are becoming out of touch with what many clients now want. Collaborative law is revolutionising the way family lawyers work and think."