A common misconception among clients who are new to mediation is that mediators and solicitors are an ‘either or’ option, when in fact there is close collaboration at many different moments in any divorce, separation, or other family law case.
Solicitors handle the formal legal processes and can represent clients in court when necessary. Mediators can relieve a lot of the strain on the courts by helping clients with negotiations and finding solutions that a judge might not normally consider.
Importantly, at the end of the mediation process, your mediator can draw up a document for you to take back to your solicitor. They can then take that document into court and get it approved by a judge, to make it legally binding.
A solicitor will typically represent one party from a legal perspective, and any negotiations may need to involve the opposing party’s own solicitor, which can naturally lead to a combative approach with each solicitor trying to get the best result for their client.
In comparison, mediators work with all the involved parties at once. That typically means both partners in a separating couple, but can also include caregivers such as grandparents and other close family, and any affected children.
Mediators have a specific goal to reach the best outcome for all parties at once so that there are no losers, only winners. At Marcia Mediation, we also believe strongly in the principle of Dignity in Divorce, and we work hard to make the process as stress-free as possible.
We’re proud of the work we do with solicitors. At Marcia Mediation we consider ourselves an ally to the local Manchester solicitors we work with.
In some cases, it’s mandatory for solicitors to refer clients to a Mediation Information & Assessment Meeting, and we will always provide fair, honest, and balanced information in the MIAM so that your clients can make the best decision for their circumstances.
If any legal work is required, or when the mediation process is complete, we will refer clients back to their solicitor to take care of it – so you do not lose out on fee-paying work when you send clients to us.
We offer aftercare as a standard for our mediation clients. That means if they need to renegotiate terms later, or they need additional support with issues like mental health or household finances, we can recommend an appropriate charity or agency.
For solicitors, this can significantly reduce the number of enquiries from past clients who want support but don’t know where to turn in order to get it.
In a sector that focuses on often stressful, emotionally charged cases, having a reliable mediator for clients who need that additional help can be a useful time-saver for solicitors.
Ultimately, there is a lot of overlap between the important work mediators and solicitors do, but we are all part of the same ecosystem, with a commitment to supporting our clients and each other in everything we do.
If you have any questions, call us on 0161 425 3940 or fill out this form
