Collaborative Divorce: Expanding Access to Justice for Marginalized Communities

This program explores how the Collaborative Divorce process offers a more inclusive, equitable, and empowering path for families outside the courtroom. Traditional litigation compounds family trauma and the barriers faced by marginalized groups, particularly members of the LGBTQ+ community, through systemic bias, lack of cultural competency, and rigid outcomes that may not reflect lived realities. The Collaborative Divorce Model creates space for dignity, privacy, and tailored solutions, allowing participants to craft agreements that reflect their authentic needs and values. Drawing on real-world experience, this session will highlight the distinct benefits of Collaborative Divorce, address common challenges marginalized clients face in the legal system, and provide practical strategies for attorneys to better serve diverse clients through this process. 

Learning Objectives: 

1. Identify the systemic barriers marginalized groups, including LGBTQ+ individuals, often encounter in traditional divorce litigation
2. Explain how the Collaborative Divorce process promotes inclusivity, privacy, and self-determination AND stays within the parameters of the law
3. Analyze ways in which Collaborative practice can mitigate bias and better accommodate diverse family structures and cultural realities
4. Apply strategies for fostering safe, affirming environments for marginalized clients within the Collaborative Divorce space
5. Evaluate how empowering clients to co-create solutions supports long-term stability (with less post-judgment actions) and fairness compared to court-imposed outcomes