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More convenient
When considering mediation, if you are eligible for Legal Aid, your
solicitor will usually tell you that you must see a mediator. If you go
straight to a mediator, it saves you visiting two professional services
because solicitors cannot usually help you until a mediator has been
consulted.
Generally speaking ...
The National Audit Office reports: "Family disputes that are
resolved through mediation are cheaper, quicker and, according to
academic research, less acrimonious than those that
are settled through the courts... It is the duty of the
solicitor or legal adviser to advise their legally-aided client of the
option of mediation in family law cases, although currently there is a
financial disincentive to do so..... 33% of clients said that they had
not been made aware by their adviser that mediation was an
option".
Cheaper
If you go to a solicitor and get Legal Aid, you are subject to the
Statutory Charge Provisions. This enables your legal costs to be
treated as a loan in many situations. The Charge is like a mortgage
which will attach to your property such as the family home, and
interest will be added in the majority of cases at 8%. Mediation
costs are exempt from this Charge. As a result you never have to
worry about having to repay legal costs from the time you see a
mediator until your mediation file is closed.
The National Audit Office report states that the average cost to the
exchequer of solicitors in Legal Aid cases is 2.24 times that of
mediated cases.
Quicker
The National Audit Office report states that the time
taken in non-mediated cases take nearly 4 times that of mediated
cases (Mediated cases less than 4 months. Non-mediated cases over 14
months).
Less acrimonious
The National Audit Office report states that the outcomes through
mediation are less acrimonious than those otherwise achieved.
Longer lasting
The National Audit Office report states that the outcomes through
mediation are longer lasting than other cases
Family First Mediation Service is one of the few specialist
mediation services in London.
The service is licensed to conduct both private and Legal Aid family
(plus commercial and civil) mediations (PLEASE CLICK
HERE to go to Legal Aid-gaining eligibility).
We gained our Legal Services Commission franchise in 2001. The
distinction that sets us apart is that our two principal mediators work
full-time in mediation, having each handled in excess of 1000 mediation
clients. They do not, as part of their main practice, conduct
litigation.
Family First mediators have the ability, experience and breadth of
background to enable clients to feel they are in accessible and safe
hands, whether their matters are to do with property and finances,
child only issues or both.
Our principal and administrator, Graham Lyons (Tel: 07773 701062.
Email: graham@familyfirstmediation.co.uk),
was initially in business before becoming a practising barrister from
1972-2007. Graham dealt in mediation cases with high values, mental
health problems and high emotion issues involving parents, new partners
and children.
He is a married family man, has a certificate in counselling, a
diploma in Child Protection and is approved to see children. Graham is
licensed to grant Legal Aid and handle all family issues that arise in
mediation.
Graham has trained a number of family, commercial and civil
mediators
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