Questions to Ask a Collaborative Professional

It is important to be comfortable with the professionals you will work with in this process. Here are some basic questions to use when you are interviewing:

How long have you been practicing?

Are you a member of the Minnesota Collaborative Law Institute?
How long have you been a member?

How many Collaborative cases do you have each year?

Are you trained as a mediator?

Do you mediate family cases?

Do you refer your clients to mediation?

Do you have time for my case?

How many of your cases involve going to trial?

Do you require a retainer fee?
In what amount?

How do you bill?

How often do you send out bills?

What is your hourly rate?

What is the minimal time period for which you charge?

For what types of activities will you be billed?

Do you accept credit cards or payment plans?

What can I do to keep my costs low?

Will any other person in your office work on my case?
Who?
What is that person's hourly rate and background?

How will we communicate?
Do you use email?

How do you gather information about my circumstances?

Do you share that information with anyone else?
Who?
When?
Why?

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