There are key differences between collaborative law and mediation:

• Mediation involves the use of a neutral third party to facilitate the process, whereas collaborative law processes use four-way meetings
• Collaborative law allows inter-disciplinary meetings with financial specialists, divorce coaches, and child specialists
• Within the collaborative process, each party’s lawyer helps with the negotiations, as opposed to the mediator controlling the process in mediation
• In mediation the parties may threaten court action, whereas in a collaborative process they make a commitment to work through the process