The Collaborative Divorce Nashville (CDN) is a group of interdisciplinary professionals committed to advancing collaborative practice to benefit clients and their families.
Membership in the CDN benefits both professionals and their clients and includes the following:
- Association with a group of legal, financial, and mental health professionals committed to resolving disputes in a non-adversarial manner.
- The opportunity to practice collaborative dispute resolution with other professionals who have been trained in collaborative law and promise to adhere to the ethical standards and principles of collaborative practice set forth by the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP).
- The ability to receive referrals from other members of CDN.
- The opportunity to take part in collaborative law trainings and seminars produced by CDN and its members and earn continuing education credits.
- Participation in educating the general public regarding collaborative law and its benefits.
- Listing of your name and contact information on the CDN website.
- See below for benefits and requirements for Friends of CDN and Student memberships.
Requirements for Regular Membership
- Licensure
- Each member of CDN shall have an active state-issued license according to degree/profession and shall be in good standing.
- Training
- Mediation Training
- All members shall complete either forty hours of mediation training or a thirty-hour client-centered facilitative conflict resolution training of the kind typically taught in mediation training within the first year of membership.
- Collaborative Law Training
- Members shall attend a two-day basic training in collaborative law sanctioned by IACP.
- Attorneys shall complete this collaborative training before joining CDN.
- Financial and mental health professionals shall complete this collaborative training requirement within the first six months of membership.
- Mediation Training
- Compliance with the Principles and Guidelines of Collaborative Practice
- Members shall sign a commitment agreeing to comply with the IACP’s Standards and Ethics currently in effect.
- Continuing Education
- Members are required to obtain three hours of continuing education each year. Many of the monthly practice group meetings include a continuing education component to assist members in satisfying this requirement.
- IACP Membership
- It is highly recommended, but not required, that all members join the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP).
- Insurance
- Attorneys and mental health professionals shall have professional liability insurance.
- All financial neutrals shall have and maintain, as a requirement for membership and continued membership in the CDN, appropriate professional liability insurance to cover the scope of their work as a financial neutral as defined in the protocols.
Benefits and Requirements for Friends of MTCA and Student Memberships
MTCA recognizes the benefits to associating allied professionals who may be resources for collaborative practitioners and their clients. In addition, CDN recognizes the benefits to affiliating students in degree programs that may lead to careers as collaborative practitioners. Accordingly, the Friends of CDN and Student Membership categories have been established with the benefits and requirements as follows:
- Network with a group of legal, financial, and mental health professionals committed to resolving disputes in a non-adversarial manner via attendance at membership events, meeting, and social events. Friends of CDN may bring promotional materials for distribution at such meetings and events.
- Create a profile in the Members Only area of the CDN website listing their contact information, credentials, expertise, services/products offered, and other information designed to help CDN members learn about them and ways in which they might be resources for collaborative practitioners and clients.
- The ability to list Friends of CDN or Student membership status in promotional materials, resume, etc. Please note that Friends of CDN and Student members may not use the CDN logo.
- The opportunity to take part in collaborative law trainings, seminars, and any other training events sponsored by CDN at a special rate.
- Friends of CDN and Student Members do not have the right to vote on membership matters or participate on the CDN board.
- Student members must be at least 21 years of age.
- Dues for Friends of CDN Membership are $150 per calendar year.
- Dues for Student Membership are $25 per calendar year.
- Dues for Friends of CDN and Students are prorated to one-half the amount after July 1st.
For more information, please contact Membership Committee chair Whitney Harrington: whitney@harrington-law.com or 615-716-8220.