Course Description

Instructor: Fred Glassman

This course will open your eyes to a new and less stressful state-of-the-art method for settling disputes you, or your relatives and friends, may have encountered.  Reflect upon arguing over a common fence with your neighbor; or disagreeing with the terms for buying or selling a house; or the planning or breakup of a marriage; or about snags in a business transaction; or children fighting over the estate of their deceased parent; or even co-workers not getting along with the supervisor.  The course is designed to inform and educate you about collaborative law, the latest consensual way to resolve such disputes.  We will explore how collaborative law differs from litigation, arbitration and mediation, the more commonly known process options.  The course will demonstrate the re-defined roles for attorneys, financial advisors, mental health professionals, and other experts as needed, who form interdisciplinary teams to guide people through controlling their own destiny while at the same time respecting the competing interests of the other party.  The instructor was a pioneer in developing collaborative law in California; and some of his law practice cases will be discussed including those that involved well known musicians, athletes, authors, actors, and public figures. 

Bio: Frederick J. Glassman holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Iowa and a juris doctorate degree from the University of California Los Angeles.  Fred is one of the pioneers in the collaborative law movement starting in California and now existing throughout the United States.  He was President of Los Angeles Family Law Association in 2007 and 2008 and of California Collaborative Practice, the state organization, in 2013 and 2014.  He is the author of "Advocacy Redefined" and "Don't Hate! Collaborate". He taught courses for the UCLA Department of Legal Programs on collaboration and mediation and appeared on Time-Warner Public Television.  Fred was a frequent speaker and panel member for the American Bar Association and the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals.  He was a registered observer on the National Law Committee for the Uniform Collaborative Law Act.  He was selected by his peers for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America and Southern California's Best Lawyers; and named "Lawyer of the Year" for collaborative law and mediation in Los Angeles County in 2014.  Fred is a recipient of the prestigious Eureka Award for distinguished service given by the State of California Collaborative Association.  He has been named in U.S News & World Report best laws firms from 2014 to 2017.  Fred has been listed in Martindale Hubbell's Bar Register Lawyers with their highest AV-rating in legal ability and ethical standards.