Collaborative Lawyer

Working with your chosen collaborative lawyer to assist you in your separation from your partner or spouse

At Klinkert Law we have three collaborative lawyers, Anja Klinkert, Dani Nicholson and Rachel Grant, available to help you approach your separation in the healthiest possible way.

To make best use of your time and resources, we work with Workbooks. Please also refer to our Resources Page and Our Costs Page for further information.

In short: We provide Workbooks for our clients to work with and we offer fixed fee costs.

The Workbooks (The Our Family in Two Homes or The Our Family in a Few Homes) Resource Package is intended to focus our help in the areas you need, and support you to make the best decisions for your family. We will guide you through the separation process with a focus on what matters to you and your newly structured family.

The Workbook

The Workbook is designed with lots of open space for notes and scribbles. It allows you – privately and on your own time - to explore the many decisions you need to make. You can gather your thoughts, make notes and then work with us to clarify your needs, articulate your hopes, generate ideas or address communication challenges with your former partner.

Time with your lawyer and time on your own

In our Workbook Resource Package, we provide a fixed fee for you to obtain a Workbook and three hours with your chosen collaborative lawyer, you can use your 3 hours with your lawyer as you need. Some people find they can work out some aspects of their separation fairly easily, but really struggle with others. You will almost certainly need more than 3 hours of time with your lawyer. We can arrange additional time at an hourly rate or with another resource package rate (your choice). By then, it will be clear where you need help, and we can focus more effectively and with the most cost-efficiency.

Once you have the Workbook in hand, here is how it can flow:

Step 1

Working with your own Workbook. Spend time on your own reading through the Workbook and jot down your thoughts or questions. Work through the series of questions as far as you feel like going on your own. Before our first meeting, please focus on pages 1– 13 (Page 1 - 20 for A Few Homes).

You do not need to share your answers with anyone. Many of the questions will form part of our discussions but what you write in the Workbook is for your own reflection.

Step 2

Meet with Dani, Rachel or Anja. At our meeting, we will discuss your concerns and priorities, and we will answer your questions. While we are working together, we will explain how the laws apply to your situation, and the workbook will support your understanding as it contains legal information on parenting, support and property. We will also focus on what is most important to you - beyond questions of law.

Step 3

Decide what else is needed. At our meeting, we will create a list of information that needs to be gathered and make a plan for dealing with particular challenges.

Step 4

Take Next Steps. We will make a plan for what's next, after we have our first meeting.

All of this is provided at a resource package rate of $1,100.00 (The package includes 3 hours with your lawyer and a workbook). We ask that you pay this fee when you receive your workbook. If you wish to make other payment arrangements, please let us know and we can discuss your specific requirements.

Next Steps

The collaborative legal process provides separating couples with the ability to meet face to face supported by their respective collaborative legal advisors and supported by a team, be it a support person, child consultant, coach, family therapist, accountant, valuer. We will help you build your team depending on your specific requirements.

Preparing for Meetings

As your collaborative lawyer we help prepare you for the joint meetings with your ex partner and their lawyer. Together, we will work to help you identify your needs, concerns and hopes for your family’s future, and to gather the information you need to make good decisions and reach agreement.

Joint Sessions

When you are both ready, we will schedule a joint session with both of you and the collaborative team. We will prepare the agenda for each meeting in advance and both you and your ex partner will determine what needs to be discussed and achieved at each meeting.

Decide what else is needed

After the first joint session, we will assess where things stand and make a decision about which topics or challenges need more attention. We will clarify what information needs to be exchanged, make a plan for dealing with each area needing discussion.

Subsequent Meetings

Sometimes we will meet all together in joint sessions. Other times, you will meet individually with your own lawyer, or the Coach/Child Specialist or the Financial Professional. This process is intended to be flexible to most effectively meet your needs. The exercises and information in the Workbooks relate to the practical, psychological, financial and legal aspects of your separation, so there is a common framework for the work you will do with all of us. Be sure to bring your Workbook with you to all of your collaborative meetings.

Documenting Your Agreement

Once you reach agreement, we will work out together what needs to be documented in order to record your agreement. We will discuss fees in advance so there are no surprises.

We look forward to working with you to help your family make a healthy transition to two homes.