释义 |
collaborative law A form of lawyer-assisted family dispute resolution. Family lawyers work together (sometimes in conjunction with other collaboratively trained professionals) to facilitate child and family-focused discussion between the two parties with the aim of reaching a mutually agreed settlement about children and financial matters. Clients and lawyers are under a duty to make a full and frank disclosure of all relevant matters, and lawyers have a duty to assist the family as a whole to reach the best possible outcome. Divorcing couples and their lawyers enter into a written agreement that during the process the parties will not litigate and lawyers will not advise them to litigate. If an agreement is not reached, the agreement is terminated and the lawyers cannot then represent either of the couple in any subsequent proceedings. |