I have been practicing collaborative law for 13, nearly 14 years. I don't know if I have had more cases than other lawyers, but I don't know many people who have been as invested as I have in this amazing legal choice (for both lawyers and clients).
When I started : I had finished 3 years of law school, a 24 hour training, practiced from 2000 until 2011 in large law firms, started my own law firm - and nothing prepared me for the complexity that is collaborative process. What I read is that the proposed rule change would allow paraprofessionals, with none of my own training or education, to essentially join me at the table. Here is the problem with that read: The stakes must be equal between professionals for collaborative cases to work. The clients and public would be dramatically misled about what collaboration even is, let alone its chances of success, if they believe that just any person with a license can use collaborative process. Collaboration works when both people are represented by attorneys because both lawyers have litigation experience they can share with both clients. Both lawyers won't risk their license to return to court if collaboration fails. Both lawyers would face the same potential discipline process - and loss after similar investment into their professionals. This encourages attorneys to engage in a way that equalizes the situation on all sides. There are some lawyers I won't work with in collaborative process for these criteria. What happens in this situation when a paraprofessional and a lawyer oppose, and the case fails? The clients don't lose the same thing. One person has invested considerably less, so they have less invested in this valuable process. The paraprofessional can/ cannot(?) return to court. It doesn't matter because at that point, starting over isn't a problem for the person who has only paid a paraprofessional. Starting over is a bigger challenge for the person with the lawyer. Therefore, the investment is not equal and the process doesn't work. I would not take a case with some lawyers, and I helped pass Rule 67.1 to make collaborative process available to everyone in Arizona through lawyers without being trained, and to increase access to a lower cost, better option for justice. Sometimes I wonder if I went too far. Even lawyers get it wrong with this rule. Clients want and deserve accessibility and accountability.
Jennifer K. Moshier, Founder
Moshier Law
11260 N. Tatum Blvd. Suite 143
Phoenix, Arizona 85018
602-345-0455 (mobile)
480-999-0800 (office)
[email protected] www.moshierlaw.com