• The format of this page is that of a dynamic outline - one that can be easily restructured and where specific items or points can be moved up or down, left or right.  The PRI is where the professionals work together
  

• On this page, working together – on the phone or in person – the professionals build a common outline of what is important and relevant to the collaborative resolution for these specific spouses.  

• On the P.R.I. (as well as the Case Critical Path – or C.C.P. – page, below) only the attorneys have ‘write’ authority.  While any party with the passwords can read this page, only the attorneys can create or modify it.

• The format of the C.C.P. is likewise a flexible and dynamic outline.  Specific points can be added, edited or deleted as often as beneficial.    If the P.R.I. contains the unique situational factors that must be considered, the C.C.P. is the ‘game plan’ on how they will be considered.

• This is a good place to develop the agenda for 4-way meetings.

• This calendar is not intended to replace any calendar or event tracking system in any user’s office.   It is a way of visualizing and managing the time specific elements unique to the spouses.

• Any page can be printed.   This can be done for archive (although saving the pages to a disc as they are created or amended saves time and paper) or other purposes.  

• By the simple act of sharing the password it is possible to enjoy the benefit of a ‘collaborative mentor’ or experienced attorney to help those making the transition to collaborative practice. 

• For attorneys, the methods and procedures of adversarial, litigation-based divorce have been ingrained by both education and experience.   Collaborative attorneys realize that the litigation based divorce ‘model’ has become too adversarial – and expensive – for many clients, that it presents too great a risk to the children.   But neither the realization that this ‘model’ is failing the majority of clients nor does the commitment to the collaborative alternative itself provides an efficient and effective alternative.

• The Eclipse^® CPS provides an alternative ‘framework’ on which the attorneys and other collaborative professionals can use to make the collaborative process effective and efficient for the clients and satisfying for themselves.

• Attorneys who use the Eclipse^® CPS already understand the law and regulation  that underlie the litigation based adversarial system.    Simply put, they already know the rules.    The Eclipse^® CPS provides an alternative system or ‘model’ within which to apply these necessary rules in the best interest of their client.

•  The ‘secret’ of the Eclipse^® CPS is that it creates the opportunity and the mechanism by which the attorneys and other collaborative professionals to work together – in real time – and efficiently synthesize in an immediate and common format a ‘case plan’ unique to the specific needs of the spouses.    Collaboration is different from litigation in that in court there is the common authority of the judge either guiding – or guiding by implication – each step of the process.   For collaboration to be satisfying and successful to both client and practitioner there must be a replacement for this hierarchical authority.   This collaborative alternative is created by the attorneys with the advice and assistance of the other collaborative professional as they work together in the ‘cyber forum’ called the Eclipse^® CPS.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Eclipse® all about?
The Eclipse^® Collaborative Practice System is principally about facilitating two important components of collaborative practice:  transition and efficiency.

• Transition refers to the evolution from the litigation based adversarial way of doing things to the practices, procedures and presumptions that make collaboration so beneficial.
• Efficiency refers to the communications and relationships between the collaborative professionals that enable the process to be personally and economically satisfying for client and professional alike.
  

What does the Eclipse^® CPS do?

• Professional relationship, encouragement and development.  This refers to the means and manner by which collaborative professionals relate to each other.  The Eclipse^® CPS creates an environment of substantive equality where each professional lends their skill to the process.
• Synergy.  The creativity that benefits the family being served comes from the cooperative interaction of the professionals involved.  The Eclipse^® CPS provides the 'cyber forum' where this synergistic interaction can take place.
• Information Management.  Call it "data overload" or "information chaos", it is a growing problem in our practices.  Without a case specific information managmeent tool, the additional resources that the collaborative family law process provides can easily increase "information traffice" rather than provide the simplifcation and organization that benefits all.

• Education.  The Eclipse^® CPS is designed to support the necessary public education that makes the colalborative alternative a meaningful choice for those facing divorce.
• Encouragement.  Studies show that divorce is the second most stressful life transition - ahead of getting fired to being diagnosed with a serious illness.  The more a spouse's family, friends and coworkers know of the benefits of collaboration, the more they can support and encourage its choice.

How does the Eclipse^® CPS pull this off?

        Because it is a relationship tool, the Eclipse^® CPS is better experienced than explained.  (These aren’t the ‘weasel words’ they seem.   When we demonstrate the Eclipse^® CLS, we’re both on the phone and the web at the same time.    We and the person with whom we’re sharing the system have both been involved in real life family law cases.  It is this common experience that allows people to understand how Eclipse^® will improve real-life client and case related activities, not in theory but in the day to day realities of divorce related practice.)   That said, Eclipse^® CPS provides something that might be described as a case specific ‘cyber forum’ – a secure place on the internet where those helping the divorcing couple can share information, understanding and ideas and jointly plan and manage the collaborative divorce process.  Clearly, there are ways of doing this without the Internet – Eclipse^® CPS just brings the communications efficiency of the Internet to the service of collaborative family practice for attorneys, clinicians and other professionals.

       Specifically, the Eclipse^® CPS organizes the collaborative divorce process.    It contains elements that

• Allows you and your colleagues to each post ‘notes’ to the file and contains a feature that lets you know immediately which notes you have already read.Provides a ‘place’ for all collaborative professionals to share and develop any and all the observations and insights that promote the collaborative process.   They can do this in concert (two or more on line and on the phone together) or individually.
• Provides a place for the collaborative professionals to develop and share a common case plan.   This is perhaps the greatest change from adversarial practice – where the goal has always been to impose the case plan most favorable to your client’s position on the other spouse.   The common understanding of the issues and the shared plan to address them is at the heart of the benefits Eclipse^® delivers.
• Provides a case specific calendar.   Unlike your office calendar, where you track and manage the many responsibilities of multiple cases, this calendar tracks and coordinates the activities of the professionals – and the circumstances of the clients – related to this one case.   It is a powerful tool in coordinating your efforts with your collaborative colleagues.
• Reduces telephone tag.    Eclipse^®  CPS allows professionals to either post to or retrieve from the case specific file the information that makes the case more efficient.  Rather than interrupt a colleague with a phone call – or hope they read your e-mail, you can post information to the Eclipse^® CPS file for their review when they most benefit from having that piece of information.
• It keeps everyone up to date. For example – a client calls: with a couple of clicks with the mouse, you can review what has transpired with the other collaborative professionals in the case in seconds – and be fully up to date when you take the call.

• Supports and maintains the Internet based Eclipse^® CPS software and sites.
• Provides training, support and administration for the professionals who use the system.

• In that all members have some professional relationship to the services that make collaborative family law successful, most by providing services directly to clients .
• In that it leaves the details of how to best provide collaborative services to the wisdom and experience of the membership of jurisdictionally specific groups.   AdNet has no ‘rules’ on how to go about collaborative inter-professional relationships or practice; it is mostly about providing the tools that any collaborative practice group can use to benefit its members and their clients.