Membership

Should you wish to consider Membership as a Collaborative Professional, please review the Membership Criteria below for your profession.  For a membership application form or if you have further questions, please contact Hilary Taylor at ht@mlhlaw.ca.

Minimum Requirements for Membership in The Collaborative Family Lawyers and Divorce Professionals Association Inc.

1.Minimum Requirements for Collaborative Lawyer Practitioners

1.1 Membership in good standing in the administrative body regulating and governing lawyers in the lawyer’s own jurisdiction.

1.2 At least two days of basic collaborative training to be interdisciplinary collaborative training.

1.3 At least four days training in client centered, facilitative conflict resolution, of the kind typically taught in mediation training (interest based, narrative or transformation mediation programs)

1.4 In addition to the above it is recommended, but not required, that the member have an accumulation or aggregate of 15 further hours of training in any of the following areas:

  • interest based negotiation training
  • communication skills training
  • collaborative training beyond the minimum two days of initial training
  • advanced mediation training
  • basic professional coach training

2. Minimum Requirements for Collaborative Financial Practitioners

2.1 Professional license, certification, registration, or designation in good standing in one of the following:

  • CFP – Certified Financial Planner
  • CPA – Certified Public Accountant
  • CA – Chartered Accountant
  • CMA – Certified Management Accountant
  • CGA – Certified General Accountant
  • or equivalent in Manitoba

2.2 Background education and experience in:

  • financial aspects of divorce
  • cash management and spending plans
  • retirement and pension plans
  • income tax
  • investments
  • real estate
  • insurance
  • property division
  • individual and family financial planning concepts

2.3 At least two days of basic interdisciplinary collaborative training

2.4 Completion of the Certified Divorce Specialist Training within 12 months of joining the Association.

2.5 At least four days training in client centered, facilitative conflict resolution of the kind typically taught in mediation training (interest based, narrative or transformative mediation programs).

2.6 In addition to the above, an accumulation or aggregate of two days of further training in any or all of the following areas is recommended but not required for membership:

  • communication skills training
  • collaborative training beyond minimum 12 hours of initial collaborative training
  • advanced mediation training
  • basic professional coach training

Minimum Requirements for Mental Health Practitioners

3.1 Masters or PhD level Mental Health Professional Certification, license, or registration in good standing in one of the following areas:

  • Psychology
  • Social work
  • Marriage and Family Therapy
  • Psychiatry
  • or some other equivalent qualification as determined by the Board of Directors

3.2 Must be a member in good standing of an administrative body regulating, governing and disciplining the Mental Health Professional including:

  • Psychological Association of Manitoba
  • Manitoba Institute of Registered Social Workers
  • Canadian Counseling Association
  • American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (Manitoba Division)
  • Manitoba Medical Association
  • or equivalent as determined by the Board of Directors

3.3 Background education and five years work experience in:

  • Family Systems Theory
  • Individual and Family Life Cycle and Development
  • Assessment of Individual and Family Strengths
  • Assessment and Challenges of Family Dynamics in Separation and Divorce
  • Challenges of Restructuring Families After Separation
  • For the Child Specialist: expertise in child development, clinical experience with a specialty focus on children and an in depth understanding of children’s unique issues in divorce.

3.4 Must carry professional liability insurance

3.5 At least two days of initial interdisciplinary collaborative training

3.6 At least two days training in client centered, facilitative conflict resolution, of the kind typically taught in mediation training (interest based, narrative, or transformative mediation programs).

3.7 In addition to the above an accumulation or aggregate of 15 hours of training in any or all of the following areas is recommended but not required:

  • basic professional coach training
  • communication skills training
  • collaborative training beyond the minimum two days of initial collaborative training
  • advanced mediation training

3.8 A minimum of three hours of basic training in Family Law in his or her jurisdiction is recommended but not required.