This year’s homage to family mediation from 22-26 January features over 24 hours of free webinars and a few in-person networking events. These webinars are aimed at solicitors, the public and likely referring professionals. It will be a veritable smorgasbord of mediation delight. 

Jo O'Sullivan

Jo O'Sullivan

Mediation misunderstandings

Even though family mediation has been around for more than 30 years, there is still much misunderstanding about what mediation is. The public are confused, as evidenced by Fair Shares? research (2023) which echoed previous academic research, Separating Families: Experiences of separation and support (2022).

Many in our profession do not refer to mediation as they too are bewildered. Attending these free webinars will help to demystify mediation.

Government policy

The government continues to support mediation with the Ministry of Justice £500 voucher scheme. As well as helping more than 19,000 couples in mediation, this scheme has provided much-needed data, noting that more than 65% of cases are successful. The government’s recent consultation seemed to hint that compulsory mediation is on its way. It is always possible that a ‘big reveal’ might happen during mediation week.

Judicial encouragement

Part 3 of the Family Procedure Rules gives the court wide powers to encourage non-court processes such as mediation. Costs orders can be sought for those that do not actively engage in non-court processes; and The Primary Principles for the Financial Remedies Court gave yet more judicial encouragement at clauses 7 and 8 to assist parties in compromise.

What you will find at Family Mediation Week

  • On Tuesday 23 January, Louisa Whitney and I will tackle Everything Lawyers Always Wanted to Know About Mediation* (* But Were Afraid To Ask) not quite in Woody Allen style, but close. If you are not sure what mediation is and how you can support it (and still bring in those fees) then you will enjoy our seminar.
  • A bugbear of mine is solicitor letters (see a whole chapter in my book (Almost) Anything But Family Court) so the Family Law Language Project devotes an hour to language.
  • If you worry that family mediation is not (usually) legally binding then worry no more – there is a session on combining mediation with arbitration.
  • There is an all-important session on domestic abuse and mediation for domestic abuse professionals.
  • The organising committee is excited that Joanna Gosling will discuss her change of career to become a family mediator. What made her make the leap into our world?

There is so much more (timetable here). All webinars will be available on the Family Mediation Council’s website after the event.

 

Jo O’Sullivan of O’Sullivan Family Law Ltd is an accredited mediator and author of (Almost) Anything But Family Court
 www.osullivanfamilylaw.com

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