About ten years ago, a few lawyers in Medicine Hat, Alberta brought a trainer to their small town to show lawyers a new negotiation process called "Collaborative Law".

I had never heard of such a thing - and, to be sure, not many other people had heard of it either at that point.  As near as I can tell, we were perhaps the first lawyers in Canada to receive this training - from a lawyer named Chip Rose.

Soon after learning about it, a group of lawyers in both Medicine Hat and Lethbridge commenced their own "Collaborative Law" practice groups, followed quickly by groups in Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer and Lloydminster.

Yet - even as the groups spread across the province of Alberta, still, we encountered friction and opposition from many lawyers who felt threatened, or perhaps, insulted by a process which was premised on a "better way" to divorce.  It was referred to by many as a "fad" which would fade away in time.

But, 10 years later, it's stronger than ever and still growing.

How wide spread is this process now?

Wales, U.K. - Sept. 8, 2011 -  from Wales Online: "Tune in to different set of options for finding solutions to conflict" ;

Charlotte, North Carolina - Sept. 27, 2011 - from Marketwatch:  "Planning for Divorce: Horack Talley Recommends 8 Steps To Take" (Which includes considering Collaborative Law);

Brentwood, Tennessee - Sept. 28, 2011 - from Insurance News "Rosemary Frank Attends National Conference to Refine Expertise"(Ms. Frank is a Collaborative Divorce Financial Neutral);

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Sept. 15, 2011 - from the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel "A better way in divorce process";

Australia - July 20, 2011 - from The New Lawyer, "Collaborative law in lawyers' hands"

Indeed, if one is looking for a Collaborative Professional, checking into the listing of members of the International Association of Collaborative Professionals, you will find the following professionals:

Lawyer - Eva Vaňková, Vysoké Mýto, Czech Republic;

Lawyer - Jean-Luc Rivoire, Paris, France;

Mental Health Professional - Elisheva Zohar Reich, Tel Aviv, Israel;

Lawyer - Hok Shi Elsie Liu, Hong Kong, China;

Lawyer - Walter Bwire, Kampala, Uganda

Collaborative Law and Collaborative Divorce is not a fad.  It is not a passing fancy.  It is a process that is helping people all the world over find a less caustic way to find resolution in the midst of one of the most emotionally painful experiences a person can experience.

If you or someone you know is in the midst of divorce or family breakdown, consider a collaborative approach.

For more information contact: ACLA - Association of Collaborative Lawyers of Alberta