Training for Professionals
Collaborative Law Training
Ongoing Professional Development
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Introduction to Interdisciplinary Collaborative Law
Professional Training Courses
Introduction to Collaborative Practice
Discover the transformative power of collaborative law with comprehensive introductory training, designed for professionals who want to resolve disputes through cooperation rather than confrontation. Each of the training providers offer a program guided by a team of experienced collaborative practitioners, you’ll be taken step-by-step through the collaborative process, learning how to engage clients, facilitate interest-based negotiation, and work effectively within an interdisciplinary team. The programme is interactive and supportive, offering practical opportunities to develop your skills and transition your practice from simply ‘cooperative’ to truly ‘Collaborative’—with a capital “C”.
Participants will receive exclusive access to proven templates, checklists, and resources used daily by leading collaborative professionals, ensuring you’re equipped to implement best practices from day one. On completion, you’ll be eligible to register a Collaborative Professional on this website and the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP). This training is the ideal foundation for anyone looking to make a meaningful difference in the lives of families or businesses though collaborative practice.
Below are the current trainings being offered.
Clarissa Rayward - Happy Lawyer Happy Life
Introduction to Collaborative Practice Online Training - Next Training Online 9th October 2026
6 weeks designed to get you implementing a bespoke legal process that provides value to clients & professionals beyond what any other family law process can provide.
To find out more or book in your training:
https://www.happylawyerhappylife.com/training_courses/introductory-collaborative-practice-training/
Advanced to Collaborative Practice
Take your collaborative skills to the next level with our Advanced Collaborative Training, crafted for practitioners who have already completed introductory training and are ready to tackle more complex cases with confidence.
This course delves into advanced strategies for managing challenging dynamics, facilitating multi-party negotiations, and addressing high-conflict situations within the collaborative process. You’ll work closely with a team of seasoned collaborative professionals, engaging in realistic case simulations and receiving personalised feedback to refine your approach and expand your toolkit.
Prerequisite: Introduction to Collaborative Law
Below are current trainings available:
Zinta Harris - Resolve Estate Law
Collaborative Practice Training for Wills and Estates
In person, 2 - 3 days of interactive face-to-face training. There are two courses offered. Core Skills and the Advanced Course.
We are hoping to bring Zinta to beautiful Aotearoa New Zealand in 2027 to register your interest, please email [email protected]
If you cannot wait until then, jump onto Zinta's website to see her next Australian training date.
To find out more or book in your training:
Financial Neutral Training
Step into a pivotal role in collaborative law as a financial neutral—an unbiased expert who brings clarity, structure, and creative problem-solving to families navigating separation or divorce. This specialised training is designed for financial planners and accountants who want to work as part of an interdisciplinary team, supporting clients to achieve fair and sustainable outcomes. You’ll learn how to gather and analyse financial information, prepare detailed reports, and facilitate open, transparent discussions about property division, cash flow, and future financial needs. The course covers essential topics such as budgeting, asset and liability analysis, tax implications, and the development of settlement scenarios, all within the collaborative process framework.
Participants will gain practical skills in working impartially with both parties, educating clients about their financial situation, and supporting lawyers and other professionals to reach mutually beneficial agreements. The training emphasises ethical standards, confidentiality, and effective communication, ensuring you are equipped to handle complex financial matters with professionalism and empathy. Upon completion, you’ll be ready to serve as a trusted financial neutral, helping families make informed decisions and build lasting agreements—while expanding your professional expertise and network within the collaborative law community.
Please contact [email protected] to find out more about this training, which will be delivered in conjunction with FANZ.
Collaborative Facilitator Training
Collaborative Facilitator Training Program — New Zealand's First Specialist Qualification for the Role
The Collaborative Facilitator is the keeper of the process at the centre of every collaborative matter — preparing both clients individually before every joint conference, chairing every meeting, and debriefing with clients and the professional team after every session. Until now, there has been no structured training pathway for this role in Aotearoa. The Collaborative Facilitator Training Program changes that. Delivered across a full Day One in-person intensive and eight monthly online sessions, the program builds the skills, frameworks and professional credential needed to step into the Facilitator role with confidence — covering the INC framework, intake and suitability assessment, chairing all stages of the collaborative process, managing the hard moments, and the ethical framework that governs the role. Participants complete approximately 36 CPD hours and receive a Certificate in Collaborative Facilitation recognised by the New Zealand Law Society and Resolution Institute.
The program is open to experienced mediators, collaboratively trained lawyers, mental health professionals and financial professionals with collaborative training. Prerequisite: Collaborative Law Basic Training (IACP or equivalent). If you haven't completed this yet, ask us about Collaborative Law Foundations — our two-day NZ-specific introductory program that satisfies the IACP requirement and feeds directly into the training program.
About the trainer: Dominique Bergel-Grant is a Collaborative Facilitator and Financial Adviser, Qualified Mediator, Financial Neutral, CDC Certified Divorce Coach® and CDC Certified Transition and Recovery Specialist® with over 20 years of experience supporting families through conflict and separation. She has personal lived experience of divorce and has built her practice at the intersection of process, relationship and law. Dominique created this program because she wanted the training she wished had existed when she started — and because she believes the Collaborative Facilitator role is the key to making the full interdisciplinary collaborative model work in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Prerequisite: Introduction to Collaborative Law
Please contact [email protected] to find out more about this training.
This Collaborative Law website is focused on providing consumers awareness of the Collaborative Law process. We have a clear mission to transform the way families and businesses resolve conflict in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Phone: 021 086 35271
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