[1] Houston-based family lawyer Harry Tindall spearheaded efforts to make collaborative law an option for divorcing couples in Texas.
[4] The Texas lawyers then invited Ferris to participate in a two-day retreat in May 2003, to help create the strategic plan for the new Collaborative Law Institute of Texas, which included the creation of a membership structure and training programs for collaborative law practitioners and family lawyers, financial professionals, and mental health professionals interested in collaborative law.
[5] The nascent organization then began its efforts in educating the public on collaborative law, including releasing a study showing significant reductions in time and money spent in collaborative divorce, when compared to a traditional courtroom divorce.
[6] The organization also grew its numbers of lawyers, mental health professionals, and financial professionals in Texas seeking to practice collaborative law,[7] and demonstrated that it could be used in cases involving business disputes as well as divorce disputes.
The conference, typically held in March, also marks the start of the term for new Board of Trustees officers.