Are all cases and clients suited for collaborative family law?
No. Lawyers will need to conduct proper screening to determine whether or not a particular case or individual client is appropriate for collaborative law. Red flags include domestic violence, alcohol or drug abuse and mental illness. Cases with those characteristics must be carefully evaluated for appropriateness given the level of communication, good faith follow through and ongoing, meaningful participation required of the client by the collaborative process. Certainly a lawyer should think seriously abo t the demands of the process before recommending collaborative law to clients in such situations and assure that the client has meaningful therapeutic support throughout the process. Cases in which a spouse believes there will be an attempt to hide assets are probably not appropriate for collaborative law although the client’s expectations and beliefs around that topic should be explored. Finally, clients who are not committed to the process should not participate in the process – if
