J. Stefan Otterson

I am glad you are looking into Collaborative Law.  The beauty of collaborative work is that all the time, expense, and energy is focused on stabilizing the situation and then developing a forward looking plan for the parties.     I have practiced law in Anchorage for 30 years, and throughout that period, I have worked to develop skills to resolve conflict without litigation.  My experience includes commercial, employment, administrative, mental health, medicaid, family law, probate and guardianships, adoptions, child protection, child advocacy and juvenile delinquency.  I mediate in these and other areas, and offer collaborative legal representation in all areas of family law. After many years as a litigator, I have recently restricted my practice to mediation and Collaborative Law only.  (I’ll still provide out-of-court legal advice, and I will litigate compelling cases involving child welfare, but only one at a time.)  I have made this change because I want my time to be productive and I’ve seen too much waste in family law litigation.  Second, litigation tends to elbow out all other priorities.  I want to be able to focus on helping people solve their own problems, and that requires a different mindset.  It’s possible to switch back and forth between fighting and calming troubled waters, but it’s not easy.  I don’t want to bring the tension from someone else’s fight into the room with your mediation or collaborative case.    I strongly recommend that separating or divorcing couples consider the collaborative approach as the most dependable way to achieve a fair resolution and a working plan for the future. It is sometimes less expensive, and it is ALWAYS less damaging and more efficient and productive than litigation. My training relating to collaborative law:   2020 IACP Educational Forum, remotely presented International Faculty 5+ hrs / 2018 IACP Institute & Educational Forum, Seattle WA, International Faculty, 19hrs   / 2017 Advance Collaborative Team Training, Liz Ferris 12hrs / 2016 Your Biases: How it Affects Your Clients & Judicial Decision Making, Jeff Rachlinski 3hrs / 2015 Managing & Mediating High Conflict Disputes, Bill Eddy, 12hrs / 2014 Advanced Collaborative Team Training, Linda Solomon, Melinda Eitzen & Scott Clarke, 14hrs / 2014 Divorce Skills & Advanced Divorce Skills, Larry Rice, 13hrs / 2014 IACP Educational Forum, Vancouver BC International Faculty 19hrs  / 2013 Advanced Collaborative Team Training, AACP, 5 / 2012 Working with Allied Collaborative Professionals, AACP, 7hrs / 2011 Advanced Collaborative Training, AACP, 5 / 2010 Advanced Collaborative Law Training, AACP, 5hrs / 2010 Appellate Mediation in Federal and State Courts, Alaska Bar Assoc., 2.5hrs / 2009 Advanced Collaborative Law Training, Mariette Geldenhuys, 7hrs / 2008 Basic Collaborative Law Training, Sue Brunsting, Mariette Geldenhuys, 14hrs / 2008 Divorce Mediation Training, Zena Zumeta, 24hrs / 2005 CINA Mediation Training, Bernie Mayer, 28hrs / 2002 Conflict Resolution Training, Bernie Mayer, CDR Assoc. 21hrs / 2001 Mediation Training Mary Margaret Golten, CDR Assoc. 40hrs www.aklaw.pro