Identifying a Collaborative Law Case
graph TD
start([Start])-->time[/Is the resolution of the issue time sensitive?/];
time-->|Yes|cl1[Consider collaborative law];
time-->|No|lit1[Consider litigation];
cl1-->pace[/Is the client interested in resolving the case at a pace that does not match litigation schedules?/];
lit1-->pace;
pace-->|Yes|cl2[Consider collaborative law];
pace-->|No|lit2[Consider litigation];
cl2-->confidential[/Is it important to keep, not only the outcome confidential, but also the dispute itself, confidential?/];
lit2-->confidential;
confidential-->|Yes|cl3[Consider collaborative law];
confidential-->|No|lit3[Consider litigation];
cl3-->preserve[/Do one or more of the parties wish to preserve the existing working, business or personal relationship? Click for more/]:::clickable;
lit3-->preserve;
click preserve "https://nccivilcollaborativelaw.org/assessments/attorney/preserve/" "Click for more"
preserve-->|Yes|cl4[Consider collaborative law];
preserve-->|No|lit4[Consider litigation];
cl4-->conflict[/Is this a high conflict emotional matter? Click for more/]:::clickable;
lit4-->conflict;
click conflict "https://nccivilcollaborativelaw.org/assessments/attorney/conflict/" "Click for more"
conflict-->|Yes|cl5[Consider collaborative law];
conflict-->|No|lit5[Consider litigation];
cl5-->fit[/Are the client's facts and circumstances a good fit for litigation?/];
lit5-->fit;
fit-->|No|cl6[Consider collaborative law];
fit-->|Yes|lit6[Consider litigation];
cl6-->not[/Would the client prefer not to litigate?/];
lit6-->not;
not-->|Yes|cl7[Consider collaborative law];
not-->|No|lit7[/Consider litigation/];
cl7-->separate[/Do you represent the company's interest, and the shareholders and/or business owners would benefit by having separate representation to resolve the matter?/];
lit7-->separate;
separate-->|Yes|cl8[Consider collaborative law];
separate-->|No|lit8[Consider litigation];
cl8-->colorable[/Does your client/potential client have a colorable claim?/];
lit8-->colorable;
colorable-->|Yes|clorlit1[Consider collaborative law or litigation];
clorlit1-->asset[/Based on your firm's criteria, is this a high asset case?/];
asset-->|Yes|cl9[Consider collaborative law];
asset-->|No|lit9[Consider litigation];
cl9-->acceptance[/Does the case meet with your firm's norms for case acceptance?/];
lit9-->acceptance;
acceptance-->|Yes|cl10[Consider collaborative law];
acceptance-->|No|lit10[Consider litigation];
cl10-->reduce[/Are you primarily a litigator and wish to reduce your case volume now while helping the client resolve the matter?/];
lit10-->reduce;
reduce-->|Yes|cl11[Consider collaborative law];
reduce-->|No|lit11[Consider litigation];
cl11-->retain[/If the case is not resolved through collaborative law, do you wish to retain the ability to litigate the case for the client? Click for more/]:::clickable;
lit11-->retain;
retain-->|Yes|clorlit2[Consider collaborative law or litigation];
click retain "https://nccivilcollaborativelaw.org/assessments/attorney/retain-ability-to-litigate/" "Click for more"
clorlit2-->individual[/Do you represent a company or organization and need to find an option for the individual parties to resolve the matter in an expeditious, inexpensive and effective manner without litigation?/];
individual-->|Yes|cl12[Consider collaborative law];
individual-->|No|lit12[Consider litigation];
cl12-->cost[/Are there cost concerns for the client? Click for more/]:::clickable;
lit12-->cost;
cost-->|Yes|cl13[Consider collaborative law];
cost-->|No|lit13[Consider litigation];
click cost "https://nccivilcollaborativelaw.org/assessments/attorney/cost/" "Click for more"
cl13-->criminal[/Any criminal charges or actions taken as between or against the parties?/];
lit13-->criminal;
criminal-->|No|cl14[Consider collaborative law];
criminal-->|Yes|lit14[Consider litigation];
cl14-->sol[/Are there any SOL issues? Click for more/]:::clickable;
lit14-->sol;
sol-->|Yes|cl15[Consider collaborative law];
sol-->|No|lit15[Consider litigation];
click sol "https://nccivilcollaborativelaw.org/assessments/attorney/sol/" "Click for more"
cl15-->damages[/Are damages expected to be less than the anticipated average trial costs?/];
lit15-->damages;
damages-->|Yes|cl16[Consider collaborative law];
damages-->|No|lit16[Consider litigation];
cl16-->referral[/Would you like to build a referral source while advocating for the C/L process without adversely impacting your opportunity with the client?/];
lit16-->referral;
referral-->|Yes|cl17[Consider collaborative law];
referral-->|No|lit17[Consider litigation];
cl17-->solution[/Does the client like the idea of being part of the solution?/];
lit17-->solution;
solution-->|Yes|cl18[Consider collaborative law];
solution-->|No|lit18[Consider litigation];
cl18-->nonmonetary[/Are there non-monetary solutions that may help to resolve this matter?/];
lit18-->nonmonetary;
nonmonetary-->|Yes|cl19[Consider collaborative law];
nonmonetary-->|No|lit19[Consider litigation];
cl19-->trained[/Is there a Collaborative Law attorney representing the employee and you're an in-house counsel, also trained as a CL lawyer? Click for more/]:::clickable;
lit19-->trained;
trained-->|Yes|cl20([Collaborative law]);
trained-->|No|lit20([Litigation]);
click trained "https://nccivilcollaborativelaw.org/assessments/attorney/trained/" "Click for more"
classDef default fill:#f1ecdf, stroke:#d1b999, stroke-width:2px;
classDef clickable fill:#f1ecdf, stroke:#d1b999, stroke-width:2px;
If any of the above scenarios resonate with you, consider the Collaborative Law Process for your client. Click here to find a Collaborative Law Attorney to meet your client's needs.