About BLC (Boston Law Collaborative)

What do you mean when you describe yourselves as a "collaborative"? In what ways are you different from a conventional law firm?

BLC is an "LLC" – that is, a limited liability company – engaged in the practice of law and providing dispute resolution services. We have space-sharing arrangements with our affiliate members. And we call ourselves a collaborative because one of the distinguishing features of BLC is working together – collaborating – in our client work and in our efforts to change the way law and related services are delivered.

With your emphasis on collaborative law, do you still have lawyers who litigate cases?

Yes, some of our lawyers represent clients in court if the case is not suitable for collaborative law or one of the disputants is not willing to use collaborative law or a non-court method of dispute resolution.

Does BLC practice law differently from other firms?

We believe we do. Our first instinct, in every case, is to look for collaborative, non-litigation solutions. Our goal is not simply to save our clients money (although that is a major goal); we are also trying to save our clients from the human toll that litigation takes – in time, aggravation, damaged relationships, uncertainty, and loss of privacy.

Why would a law firm adopt an approach (such as collaborative law) that results in lower revenues for the firm?

Our experience has shown us that saving money for our clients is not only the right thing to do – it is a sound business plan because it results in referrals and repeat business.

What brought you together?

All of the BLC lawyers are members of the Massachusetts Collaborative Law Council, and we all share a vision of making the practice of law a more humane profession. For us, this means taking client service very seriously, using a multidisciplinary, holistic approach to the practice of the law, and creating a workplace community – involving lawyers, administrative staff, and people from other professions – that fosters teamwork, mutual respect, and collegiality.

What do you charge for your services?

Please click here for information about our fees and billing policies.