This site has two purposes.

• An information resource for attorneys and other professionals who currently or intend to provide collaborative services to clients anticipating, involved in or having experienced divorce and similar relationship changes.  This information is before the portal and anyone can access it.
• Operational resources or tools for attorneys and others to assist them in

• Providing beneficial services to current clients and
• Managing and growing their practice

These include…

1.  The Eclipse ^® Collaborative Practice System.    The principle tool to benefit current collaborative family law clients is the Eclipse^® CPS.  
        This interactive Internet based tool:

• Keeps the attorneys and other professionals, if any, ‘on the same page’ and working together as they guide their clients though the collaborative divorce process,
• Enhances the efficiency, including economic efficiency, of the collaborative family process,
• Improves client satisfaction.

    Access to the Eclipse^® CPS is restricted to those who have a user name and password for two reasons:

• To provide additional security protecting client information and confidentiality,
• To make the Eclipse^® CPS collaborative tool available to those who are committed to providing the benefits of collaborative practice and who have been instructed in its use.

    Anticipating a few questions…

• There is no charge to obtain the user name and password necessary to access the Eclipse^® Collaborative Practice System.
• Use of the Eclipse^® CPS requires no financial or other contribution by the professionals who use it – other than learning how it works.
• The Eclipse^® CPS is completely ethical in all jurisdictions in the United States and Canada.
• The Eclipse^® CPS does not restrict or direct attorneys or others – in any way – as to the nature or scope of professional services they render to clients and is unrelated to the fees charged for these services.
• The Eclipse^® CPS is consistent with all collaborative practice group protocols and organizational structures and its use has no impact at all on the other activities or operations of the practice group.
• The Eclipse^® CPS is part of a program that educates the public on the benefits of collaborative family law and divorce and assists those with a user name and password in reaching out to and serving the needs of those facing divorce.  However, the other elements of the Eclipse^® CLS program can be used or ignored as the individual practitioner sees fit. 

2.  Best Practices Guide.     This is a tool to enhance all elements of a collaborative practitioner’s practice – professional, economic and personal.   

• This tool is organized in expandable/contractible outline format.   You can go directly to the point or issue of interest and elaborate or summarize without spending unnecessary time.
• The Best Practices Guide (BPG) is practical rather than theoretical.   It is directed to the real world issues faced by real world family law practitioners.
• The BPG is dynamic.  It continues to grow and develop – yet thanks to the format - is never becomes more cumbersome to use.
• The BPG is based on a ‘put and take’ model.    The best practices come from the experience of practitioners – what has worked for them.   Anyone with a user name and password can share what works for them (put) just as anyone can use the BPG as a resource (take).
• The BPG is professionally edited.   The ‘puts’ that come in from practitioners all around the country are categorized so that they fit into the BPG outline where they most logically go.  They are edited to take the ideas of those who share them and put them in the language and expression most useful to those who will benefit from them.
• There is no charge to contribute to or benefit from this tool.

3.  Other Programs.  The Advocates Network is a clearing house for other professional as well as practice development programs.   For some there is a cost, for some not.  In many jurisdictions divorce and family law general practice attorneys for whom family law, much less collaborative family law, is only part of the services they provide.   These practitioners are interested in collaborative family law, but while it is developing and growing can benefit from other programs – not inconsistent with the principles of collaborative law – that provide benefit to them and their clients.   

• Pro Se Real Estate.    In many parts of the country general practice lawyers already assist clients with real estate transactions.   While there is substantial variation depending on market and economic conditions, there are a growing number of people who wish to sell their property without the assistance – or commissions – of a real estate broker.   This program was designed to allow the attorney to profitably offer a more comprehensive package of services to these clients.   The attorney provides the legal services and advice and the PRSE provides – to the attorney – the marketing and related materials to allow the attorney to provide a more comprehensive and useful package to those clients who want to sell their property themselves.  The Pro Se Real Estate program offers
• A large, professional, internally illuminated yard sign along with a color brochure and an internet site with a description and photos of the property along with other information to assist the client in marketing.
• This is provided through the attorney.  Nothing goes from the program to the client directly.
• The attorney receives jurisdiction specific materials to professionally and ethically present and provide program services to clients.  In addition, there are materials to educate and train staff.
• There is no charge for the educational and promotional components of this program, but there is a charge for the sign, color brochure and Internet presence and other sales tools provided to the client through the attorney.

• Client Surveys.    Asking the right questions, the right way often makes the difference between a professional practice that is stagnant and one that is moving forward both economically and personally.    The cost of doing it right is modest – even for solo or small firm practitioners - especially compared to the benefits.
• Market and Competition Research.   The practice of law is a business as well as a profession.  As a business it is becoming more competitive – forcing its members to work harder and longer to stay economically even.   This tool of practice development yields greater economic, professional and client satisfaction efficiencies that show up as more time, more money and less stress.
• There is a charge for these services – quoted in advance – but access to the normative database is without charge.