|
General Comments
Michele has been actively mediating since 1986 and not longer goes to court. She now includes collaborative practice as another option to traditional adversarial proceedings. She was a member of Collaborative Practice Silicon Valley (CPSV), but since moving Walnut Creek, she has joined Collaborative Practice East Bay (CPEB). Michele believes that collaboration and cooperation provide a better and more productive way to end a marriage, especially when children are involved.
The team concept uses two lawyers, who each support a client, as well as working together in four-way meetings to resolve disputes in a cooperative and supportive way. Mental health professionals, as coaches, are useful to enhance communication between the parties and financial consultants. A child specialist is included as necessary for the benefit of the children.
Like mediation, collaborative practice relies on an atmosphere of trust, cooperation and honesty, while actively supporting the couple at a very difficult time in their lives and the lives of their children. The parties themselves are responsible for creating an agreement that reflects their desires, as opposed to having an agreement made for them. The end result is that collaborative practice provides a more client-centered way to divorce. Michele has three decades of experience mediating family law cases. For more information on collaborative pratice or mediation, contact Michele at 925-933-6784.
|
|
