From the desk of My Collaborative Team President, Edward S. Sachs, ACP 

Last week I saw a post and comments on Facebook that blew me away.  A Miami attorney, Anastasia Jay posted a promotion for the FACP State Conference encouraging people to attend.  The first comment under the post was from another attorney who wrote, “See now I am not sold on this.”  She went on with her concerns about the withdrawal clause.  Anastasia’s response was incredible and should provide us with food for thought.

“So, I hear you, BUT, I promise you, volunteer as a scribe and sit through a case meeting.  It’s actually a very emotional process that is appropriately paced.”  She goes on describing the difference between an all-day mediation and a four-hour Collaborative session…. “Issues actually got addressed that usually can’t be (i.e. facilitator introduces dads new girlfriend to mom and facilitates their conversation before kid does on overnight, etc).  It’s a beautiful process.”

On Friday at our Happy Hour, my friend and long-time colleague Ellen Dee Silvers joined us.  Ellen has been a skeptic for many years.  That is, until this past week when she served as a scribe on a Collaborative matter.  The glowing words she had for the Process as well as the individual Collaborative professionals was transformative.

So maybe Anastasia hit the nail right on the head.  Maybe the best way to educate the skeptics is to get them to observe a Collaborative team meeting.  Let them see the Process in action.  Consider asking the clients in your next matter if they would mind an observer.  The observer would just need to sign a confidentiality agreement.