Statutes and Ethics Opinions
Collaborative Law ("CL") has become an increasingly important method of resolving conflict. Statutes authorizing the use of CL have been adopted in two states - please click on the states below for a copy of the statute from that state:
Legal ethics opinions have been issued in six states - most of them supportive of CL but some of them sounding a note of caution, particularly with regard to informed consent (i.e., it is important for the client to understand fully what CL is about and also the alternatives to CL). Please click on the names of the states below for a copy of the opinion from that state:
In August 2007, the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility issued a favorable opinion (#07-447) about Collaborative Law, which can be accessed by clicking here.
In addition, the Collaborative Law Committee of the ABA Dispute Resolution Section issued a draft report in October 2008, summarizing these ethics opinions, and that report can be access by clicking here.