My joy was boundless. I had learnt the true practice of law. I had learnt to find out the better side of human nature and to enter men's hearts. I realized that the true function of a lawyer was to unite parties riven asunder. The lesson was so indelibly burnt into me that a large part of my time during the twenty years of my practice as a lawyer was occupied in bringing about private compromises of hundreds of cases.
I lost nothing thereby -- not even money, certainly not my soul. Kirsten Hytopoulos was admitted to the Washington State Bar in 1997. Her interest in an alternative to the traditional winner-take-all approach to the practice of law began in law school where, as Student Bar Association president, she worked with the administration to reduce the high pressure, adversarial nature of the academic environment.
After working as a criminal prosecutor and a college instructor, Kirsten took time off from the law to focus on raising her three young children and to work on local political issues, ultimately serving four years on the Bainbridge Island City Council, including one year as Mayor.
I lost nothing thereby -- not even money, certainly not my soul. Kirsten Hytopoulos was admitted to the Washington State Bar in 1997. Her interest in an alternative to the traditional winner-take-all approach to the practice of law began in law school where, as Student Bar Association president, she worked with the administration to reduce the high pressure, adversarial nature of the academic environment.
After working as a criminal prosecutor and a college instructor, Kirsten took time off from the law to focus on raising her three young children and to work on local political issues, ultimately serving four years on the Bainbridge Island City Council, including one year as Mayor.
Services
The simple act of bringing parties together in a safe, private and structured forum to listen to one another, can greatly influence how soon and how well a case is settled.
And yet, our society's traditional approach to conflict resolution - litigation - is founded upon a model more akin to war than peace talks.
This model is particularly tragic in the area of divorce, pitting spouses (often parents) against each other and attempting to apply rigid, one-size fits-all laws to intimate relationships involving the deepest of emotions and with lifelong consequences.
And yet, our society's traditional approach to conflict resolution - litigation - is founded upon a model more akin to war than peace talks.
This model is particularly tragic in the area of divorce, pitting spouses (often parents) against each other and attempting to apply rigid, one-size fits-all laws to intimate relationships involving the deepest of emotions and with lifelong consequences.
Collaborative Divorce is a process through which divorcing spouses work together with the help of both of their attorneys and one or more neutral advisors to create a settlement that meets their family's unique needs.
While any approach to non-litigated divorce might be described as "collaborative", Collaborative Divorce refers to a specific formal process.
The Collaborative process begins with each spouse retaining a lawyer who has been trained in both interest based mediation and Collaborative Law.
While any approach to non-litigated divorce might be described as "collaborative", Collaborative Divorce refers to a specific formal process.
The Collaborative process begins with each spouse retaining a lawyer who has been trained in both interest based mediation and Collaborative Law.
Mediation is a process in which parties work together to create a mutually acceptable settlement agreement with the assistance of a neutral facilitator.
Settlement negotiations occur through a series of meetings with the mediator, who is trained to help the parties identify issues and move past impasse.
Mediation provides a safe neutral forum for difficult conversations.
As the mediator does not represent either party, she or he is not able to provide legal advice and so it is highly advisable in most cases that each party retain a lawyer to review any agreements reached during the mediation process and to draft the legal documents necessary to memorialize them.
Settlement negotiations occur through a series of meetings with the mediator, who is trained to help the parties identify issues and move past impasse.
Mediation provides a safe neutral forum for difficult conversations.
As the mediator does not represent either party, she or he is not able to provide legal advice and so it is highly advisable in most cases that each party retain a lawyer to review any agreements reached during the mediation process and to draft the legal documents necessary to memorialize them.
Cooperative Divorce is less about a specific process than it is about a shared desire by both parties to avoid court and to conduct settlement negotiations in an open, transparent and respectful manner.
While the parties do not enter into a formal non-litigation agreement, a contract may be signed between the parties at the beginning of the case setting out ground rules such as acting in good faith, keeping an open mind, not involving the children in conflicts and not using a threat of litigation to coerce an agreement.
While the parties do not enter into a formal non-litigation agreement, a contract may be signed between the parties at the beginning of the case setting out ground rules such as acting in good faith, keeping an open mind, not involving the children in conflicts and not using a threat of litigation to coerce an agreement.
Getting divorced is probably not on anyone's list of fun things to do.
But if that's where you find yourself, getting through the process collaboratively under the skilled guidance of Kirsten Hytopoulos is the way to go.
Despite the challenges of an inevitably contentious process, Kirsten kept me and my soon-to-be ex-husband focused on what we'd acknowledged to be our primary goals.
When emotions ran high and a successful outcome hung in the balance, Kirsten reeled us back to the mediation table with wisdom, professionalism, and empathy.
But if that's where you find yourself, getting through the process collaboratively under the skilled guidance of Kirsten Hytopoulos is the way to go.
Despite the challenges of an inevitably contentious process, Kirsten kept me and my soon-to-be ex-husband focused on what we'd acknowledged to be our primary goals.
When emotions ran high and a successful outcome hung in the balance, Kirsten reeled us back to the mediation table with wisdom, professionalism, and empathy.
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