Evaluating collaborative law in the Australian context

Collaborative law as a method of resolving family law disputes is a relatively recent development in Australia. Originating from the United States, collaborative law has become increasingly widespread in Australia since 2005. This article evaluates the advantages and disadvantages of collaborative law in resolving family disputes in the Australian context. A background and history of the operation of collaborative law in Australia will be presented. It shall be argued that despite the innovation offered by collaborative law, there are a number of challenges associated with the Australian system of collaborative law. In particular, this includes the cost of the collaborative law process and issues associated with the mechanism of this type of dispute resolution.