At the Seattle Collaborative Law Center, PLLC we are changing the way law is practiced in the Pacific Northwest. We do this by focusing on the needs and interests of our clients and their family rather than creating, enabling, or inflating conflict.
There is too much conflict in the world already and, if asked, you would find very few people who would choose to live their life in conflict or have their children live in a household filled with conflict.
In order for us to achieve our mission it is essential for our attorneys be more than what you would call a “traditional” lawyer. Consider: If you are at the grocery store, on the golf course, or talking to friends and someone mentions a “lawyer”, unflattering images usually come to mind.
At law school lawyers are taught the tools of “winning”. What they do not tell their students, or the future clients, is that along with these tools come more legal fees, delay, increased conflict, lack of communication, broken families and, if there are children involved, children who may be emotionally damaged for the rest of their lives.
Here at SCLC we live by the mission of Peacemaking: Let It Begin With Me.
The vast majority of people needing legal assistance need less, not more, conflict.
Less conflict, and getting to a resolution, STARTS WITH THE LAWYER!!
At SCLC we have faith that our clients, when given the opportunity and with our assistance, can communicate what they need and, sometimes, what they think their spouse needs. Once those needs and interests are identified, the question becomes what legal process is the best one for reaching that result. While it may be counter-intuitive, a process that emphasizes transparency, full disclosure, voluntary participation, and informed consent is more likely than not to help the client to a resolution they can embrace.
Finally, we trust our clients to, once they have all the information they need to make an informed choice, make a decision on their future that will be durable and stand the test of time.
Resolutions steeped in the conflict of litigation are more likely than not to lead to a resolution that leaves both people unhappy, unfulfilled, resentful, and poorer by far. That is not what we want for those who choose to work with the Seattle Collaborative Law Center.
Our Mission is a daily commitment for the Seattle Collaborative Law Center. We invite you to come and join us and learn more.
Kevin R. Scudder
Principal
