General Law Practice & Collaborative Practice

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GENERAL LAW PRACTICE

Christine Crilley graduated with Highest Honors from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1983. She has practiced law in Iowa for her entire career,  primarily in the 6th Judicial District (Linn, Johnson, Benton, Iowa, and Jones counties) but also practices in other counties in Iowa such as Black Hawk.  Ms. Crilley is an experienced litigator with over 35 years of legal experience.  

Christine practices  in a variety of areas of the law (General Practice) such as adoptions, family law, probate, wills, personal injury, construction law, business law, church law, real estate, criminal law, mediation, and collaborative law (as well as other General Practice areas).

Additionally, Christine offers unbundled legal services on a per assignment basis, such as calculation of child support;  preparation of pro se for mediation session with another mediator;  drafting deed; drafting Power of Attorney; and other individual documents such as Stipulation of Settlement.  This is a limited service per assignment, and it is not comprehensive or expansive. It is paid hourly per assignment; representation ends at conclusion of assignment.  She does not represent you fully or completely in the entire matter, just the assignment.  She does not appear in the matter for you as counsel of record.  In the event you decide you desire full representation from Christine, she would end unbundled legal services and enter into a standard attorney-client relationship with you with retainer and contract.

If you are interested in a particular area of legal practice or unbundled legal services, please contact our office (319) 363-5606 to inquire as to whether we offer legal services in that type of law. 

COLLABORATIVE LAW PRACTICE

In 2011 Christine became a Member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals and a Member of the Collaborative Lawyers of Eastern Iowa. 

Collaborative Resolution is a contractual process whereby the Parties enter into a written agreement to work as a “unit” or “team” for resolution that is good for the collective/both sides.  In the Collaborative process, the Parties and the attorneys are working for the “best” of the team; and the attorney makes sure that their own client’s wishes, desires and needs are part of the collective discussion.

Goals included working in the "best interests" of the children; "win-win" resolutions; and post dissolution preservation of positive relationships for the Parties.  This process empowers the Parties to control their own decision making through attorney guidance.

Both attorneys must be Collaboratively trained to participate.  Christine is not only a trained Collaborative Lawyer, but also trains Collaborative Professionals.  A list of Collaborative Lawyers may be found on the Collaborative Lawyers of Eastern Iowa website.

“At this time, most of the development in this type of Dispute Resolution (Collaborative Law) is coming from the Family Law area. Only time will tell if other areas of the law adopt this method of resolution the way the Family Law area has done.”    Christine L. Crilley

If you are interested in Christine representing you in the Collaborative Law process please call us at : (319) 363-5606