How magnificent was the IACP Forum in Vancouver last month? It was GREAT! Nearly 500 collaborative professionals from a dozen countries met to learn, network and naturally- collaborate! It is difficult to put into words the energy and enthusiasm for the collaborative process that infuses everyone who attends.
We had ten representatives from the State of New Jersey attend the forum. We met people from all three professional groups, from different countries with different languages, customs and laws. Each of us is striving to grow our practices, sharpen our skills and bring collaborative divorce practice to our neighbors.
Such is no small goal, but we are dedicated.
A special pleasure for me was meeting and sharing with new collaborative professionals how our group, and the State of NJ as a whole, has developed over the past eight years. Our groups are well organized, funded, have By-Laws, executive boards and committees, new members, professional marketing materials and cases.
To newcomers, we look like rock stars!! However, some of us also attended advanced training workshops for practitioners with 15+ cases and in no time realized, we still have a lot to learn.
Collaborative practitioners must be skillful and committed to learning as much as they can. Basic training gets newcomers admission to the collaborative community, but just touches on the very basics of the process. I encourage everyone to continue learning as we all strive for excellence and help one family at a time achieve a collaborative settlement with a positive future.
Finally, in closing, tonight I host my last business meeting as President of the Jersey Shore Collaborative Law Group. This past year has been so successful in bringing our group together and paving the way for an organized, focused and productive future..
It has been my honor to be your rather short, but very grateful leader.
Happy Holidays, everyone!
Joanne S. Nadell
President
Jersey Shore Collaborative Law Group
P.S. CONGRATULATIONS to Loretta Gephart, M.A. from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania who is our 2014 IACP winner of the drawing for a copy of my book, “Roadmap to a Successful Collaborative Divorce.”
