Suffolk committee meets to discuss Justice Minister's proposed decision on couples mediating before court action

News from the justice minister that separating couples may be required to consider mediation before going to court, under plans being examined by the government, will be discussed at the inaugural meeting of the Suffolk Family Justice Council's Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee which meets at Ipswich Crown Court today (10th September 2009). 
 
Alternative dispute resolution is the term used to describe ways of resolving personal disputes which do not rely on the courts or judges.  One of the committee's tasks will be to develop a strategy in Suffolk to increase public awareness and the uptake of mediation and collaborative family law as alternatives to court.
 
Stephen Anderson, a family mediator and collaborative family solicitor at Ipswich firm Birketts LLP, and chair of the Suffolk branch of the family lawyers group Resolution, will be chairing the committee.  He comments "Although family mediation is generally acknowledged as being the most cost-effective way of helping separating couples achieve better outcomes, and has been around for many years, the way it works is not fully understood by many lawyers and judges, so its uptake is low.  This means most couples are left to sort out their differences through the traditional adversarial court route which typically leads to very acrimonious separations.  This isn't good for the couple, any children they might have, or their wider family. 
 
“Government backing to promote the alternatives to court are welcome.  The latest announcement by the justice minister Bridget Prentice coincides with the launch of this committee, the work of which I hope will lead to a better understanding for Suffolk's residents and legal professionals of the many advantages of mediation and collaborative family practice."