COLLABORATIVE LAW TRAINING
(This training occurred in 2006 and is left on the site for historical reference purposes only.)
with a special focus on serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
Transgender clients and their families
When: May 4th and 5th, 2006
8:30 a.m. Registration
9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. each day Training
Where: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center,
208 West 13th Street (between 7th Ave and Greenwich Ave),
New York, NY
Prerequisites for Attendance:
Sincere Interest in Collaborative Law Practice
Experience and an associated degree in one or more of the following fields: Law, Mental Health, Financial, Conflict Resolution
Registration: $500 through March 8, 2006; $550 on or after March 9, 2006
Further information: Contact Mariette Geldenhuys at mariette@ithacalaw.com or (607)273-2202.
Collaborative Practice is the fastest growing Dispute Resolution process in Family Law today and, in the last few years, Collaborative Practice groups have formed across the United States and Canada. This remarkable growth is driven by the essence of the process: the parties, attorneys and allied professionals agree that they will work together rather than resorting to the courts to help the parties resolve their disputes. LGBT clients, in particular, face the possibility of harsh and inequitable outcomes as the legal system does not adequately recognize and protect their relationships and families.
About the Program:
This Two-Day Intensive Training includes a complete introduction to Collaborative Family Law theory, practice, and skills development as well as ethics and practice development considerations, with a focus on LGBT clients and how the collaborative law process can meet their needs. It is appropriate for attorneys new to Collaborative Law as well as experienced attorneys wishing to improve upon their skills and learn more about the application of Collaborative Law to cases involving LGBT clients. This program provides 14 hours of Continuing Legal Education credit – 13 hours General and 1 hour Ethics.
The two day program will also provide an overview of a multidisciplinary collaborative law practice and relationship building for lawyers, mental health professionals, mediators and financial specialists.
Particularly for lawyers, the competencies needed for the effective practice of CFL are different from those taught in law school and honed in a traditional practice. They include:
Preparing clients for interest-based negotiations
Establishing a cooperative relationship between counsel and the parties
Disclosing information voluntarily and without formal discovery
Dealing with provocations and impasses when there are no courts to turn to.
Presenters:
Mariette Geldenhuys has practiced law in Ithaca, New York for the past seventeen years and is a partner in the Ithaca law firm of LoPinto, Schlather, Geldenhuys and Salk. She is Founder and President of the Collaborative Family Lawyers of Central New York and an attorney for the plaintiffs in a same-sex marriage rights case in Tompkins County, New York. She is a contributor to and member of the editorial board of the Same-Sex Partnership Law Report published by American Lawyer Media. Mariette has written articles, given lectures and made presentations on a range of topics, including Collaborative Law and legal issues affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender clients. She is a member of the New York State Bar Association and the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, where she will led a workshop on “Collaborative Law for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Clients and their Families” in October 2005.
Sue Brunsting is a matrimonial and family law attorney with more than 20 years of experience, now limiting her practice to Collaborative Family Law and settlement advocacy. Sue has provided CFL trainings across Canada and the United States and is dedicated to helping attorneys represent their clients collaboratively. She is a member of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals; Sue serves on the board of the IACP.
We seek to include all qualified professionals in the collaborative training course and will not deny participation if paying the full fee would be a financial hardship for that professional. Upon request, the fee may be reduced by at least 50% for professionals with an annual income of less than $30,000 per year.
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REGISTRATION FOR COLLABORATIVE LAW TRAINING
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Registration is limited to thirty-two (32) participants. A confirmation packet will be sent upon receipt of registration and payment.
The cost for the Collaborative Law Training is $500 ($550 after March 8, 2005)
PLEASE SEND COMPLETED REGISTRATION FORM AND PAYMENT TO:
LeGaL
799 Broadway, Suite 340
New York, New York 10003
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