Carla Calabrese
5944 Luther Lane, Ste. 875
Dallas, Texas 75225
United States
Dallas, Texas 75225
United States
Office Phone: 214-939-3000
Member since 2004
Membership Type: IACP
Profession(s)
Lawyer Area(s) of Practice: Collaborative Law, Family Law, Mediation, Other
License(s): Law
Professional Activities
2009 Collaborative Law Course ~2008 Collaborative Law Institute Spring Conference ~2007 Collaborative Law Spring RetreatUndergraduate Education
B.S.B.A., Magna Cum Laude, 1982, Bowling Green State University
Professional Education
J.D. with Honors, 1986, University of Cincinnati College of Law
Comments
I have learned that training is vitally important in collaborative family law since the practice is fundamentally different than law school training as well as the traditional practice of law. The more training a collaborative lawyer has the more successful he/she will be in the process. I have committed myself to training and have taken over 10 different family law trainings to date. I have also had the opportunity to conduct trainings. Since this model is relatively new, when one is looking to hire a collaborative lawyer, the lawyer's experience level is vitally important. Because I began practicing collaborative family law early in its inception in Texas and I believe so strongly in the model, I have a vast amount of experience in this area. I believe that my extensive training and experience makes me uniquely poised to successfully assist clients with collaborative law matters. <br> <br>I have also had the great opportunity to serve on the Protocols Committee of the Collaborative Law Institute of Texas. The Committee is comprised of 8 lawyers who co-authored the protocols now used by Texas lawyers when practicing collaborative law. Serving on that committee and drafting those rules of practice in and of itself was a great learning experience and greatly enhanced my collaborative law skills. <br> <br>I have always been concerned about the damage done to families and innocent children by the litigation model, and have felt in my heart that there had to be a better way. Clearly, collaborative law is the better way, and I have decided to dedicate my practice to advancing this worthy cause. <br> <br>It is my hope that in the not too distant future, collaborative family law will not be an alternate dispute resolution method, but will be the first and only choice made by families facing divorce. Collaborative family law is a win-win for the couples, children and lawyers involved. It allows families to restructure with dignity while minimizing the negative impact of divorce on families. Collaborative family law is long overdue and any person looking to hire a lawyer to assist with a family law matter should be educated about the great benefits of the collaborative law process. <br>