Finally, family law lawyers have a single, authoritative Canadian treatise on collaborative family law. "Collaborative family law" is a process where parties and their counsel adopt a cooperative, constructive approach to resolving family law conflicts. Family law lawyers across the country are embracing the collaborative law approach as the preferred method of serving their clients. The authors bring practical legal, mediation and social work experience to their discussion of this novel development in family law. The work offers a comparative analysis of the principles and practice of collaborative family law, mediation and traditional litigation, and instructs the reader how to practise collaborative family law and establish a collaborative family law group. Also discussed is how collaborative law can be applied to other conflicts involving family, such as estates law disputes. This work is a must-have for any family law lawyer who does not want to miss this new approach to family law practice. About the Authors: Richard W. Shields, M.A., LL.B., LL.M., is a lawyer, mediator and arbitrator. He was admitted to the practice of law in Ontario in 1976 and, in 1999, received his Certification from the Law Society of Upper Canada as a Specialist in Family Law. Mr. Shields began his studies in ADR in 1993. He obtained his Certificate in Dispute Resolution from Pepperdine University in 1994, his Master of Arts in Conflict Resolution from Antioch University in 1996, and his Master of Laws in ADR from Osgoode Hall Law School, York University in 1998. He received his Certification from Family Mediation Canada as a Comprehensive Family Mediator in 1998 and his Designation from the ADR Institute of Canada, Inc. as a Chartered Mediator in 1999. Mr. Shields is a member of various law and ADR professional associations including the Canadian Bar Association and the Ontario Bar Association, the Advocates’ Society, the ADR Institute of Canada, Inc. and its provincial affiliate, the ADR Institute of Ontario, Inc., of which he is a past president, Family Mediation Canada, of which he is a past Certifying Administrator, the American Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section, the Association for Conflict Resolution, the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, and the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals. He teaches Family Law in the Bar Admission Course for the Law Society of Upper Canada, Family Law and Negotiation in the Certificate in Family Mediation program at McMaster University, and Negotiation and Mediation in the Certificate in Dispute Resolution program at York University. Mr. Shields is a co-author of Collaborative Family Law: Another Way to Resolve Family Disputes. Judith P. Ryan has dual professional qualifications as a social worker and a lawyer. After receiving her Master of Social Work degree, she began her professional career in Kingston, Ontario. She was admitted to the practice of law in Ontario in 1982. In 1986 she obtained her Master of Laws degree from the University of Toronto. Ms. Ryan has published several articles on both mediation and the practice of law, and is a co-author of Collaborative Family Law: Another Way to Resolve Family Disputes. She has designed and conducted hundreds of ADR workshops and training programs across Canada, the United States, Australia and elsewhere for judges, lawyers, and health care professionals as well as for government agencies and private businesses. Ms. Ryan is a member of the ADR Institute of Canada, Family Mediation Canada, the Association for Conflict Resolution, and the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts. Victoria L. Smith is a partner in the law firm of Simmons, da Silva & Sinton, where she practises family law exclusively, and she is a principal of Immediation Inc., which offers family and civil mediation and arbitration services. Ms. Smith was admitted to the practice of law in Ontario in 1983. She has been a practising mediator since 1990. Following her training in collaborative family law in 2000, Ms. Smith has restricted her practice to collaborative family law and mediation. She is a member of several ADR associations including the Canadian Bar Association and the Ontario Bar Association (Family Law and ADR Sections), the ADR Institute of Canada Inc., Family Mediation Canada, the American Bar Association (Dispute Section Subsection), the Association for Conflict Resolution, and the International Association of Collaborative Professionals. Ms. Smith is also a part-time instructor in mediation and negotiation at Osgoode Hall Law School. She is a co-author of Collaborative Family Law: Another Way to Resolve Family Disputes.
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