We have prepared a couple of checklists of things to look out for when choosing a solicitor or mediator.
People do sometimes “shop around”
It is important that you find someone you have confidence in and can work with.
Whatever you do, focus on expertise and experience over cost. It is often very difficult to predict costs and sometimes people are not as cheap as they think they are going to be.
Choosing a mediator
There are lots of mediators around with different backgrounds and levels of experience. A lot of mediators have trained in the last few years and are still relatively inexperienced. Others may have trained a while ago, but have not really done much to pursue a career as a mediator.
Ian Walker has a longstanding commitment to helping families to resolve their own disputes.
What is also important is the mediator’s style and ability to build a relationship with the couple, who will be relying upon the mediator’s integrity and neutrality.
Call our experienced Family Law Solicitors, Divorce Lawyers or Mediators now
CALL: 03339 390188
Or find your local expert:
Exeter (Head Office): 01392 248113
Bath: 01225 809399
Bristol: 0117 911 1215
Dorchester : 01305 896776
Frome: 01373 887331
Honiton: 01404 819098
Plymouth: 01752 545244
Plymouth (Plympton): 01752 545244
Poole: 01202 090063
Shaftesbury: 01747 898332
Taunton: 01823 429183
Torquay: 01803 895228
Wells: 01749 987446
Weston-Super-Mare: 01934 806223
Yeovil: 01935 804466
You may have questions such as: How to choose the best mediator? How to find a mediator? Who chooses the mediator?How to check if a solicitor is registered UK? What are people looking for in a mediator?
We have created an FAQ’s page that can help answer those questions.
What to look for | How does Ian rate | The alternative |
---|---|---|
When did they train as a mediator? | 1996 | |
When were they first authorised to undertake legally aided mediation | 2000 | |
When were they first accredited? | 2001. lan was amongst the first 20 mediators to achieve the accreditation standard with Resolution. | |
Are they currently accredited? | Yes, by the Law Society | |
Are they trained to undertake direct consultation with children within mediation | Yes | |
Are they child friendly? | Yes, Ian is a parent of four children myself. He has been a member of the Law Society Children Panel continuously since 1996 | |
Do they supervise other mediators? | Yes | |
Are they able to offer legal aid | Yes, to those who are eligible | |
Are they able to offer the full range of mediation models? | Yes, Ian was trained by Henry Brown who pioneered both the traditional model family mediation, but also the model used in civil mediation and he is able to mediate using permutations in between | |
Are they a practicing Solicitor? | Yes, Ian qualified in 1992. Ian also practices as a Solicitor | |
Do they have experience and expertise in financial issues | Ian was originally accredited by Resolution in 2000 as having expertise in financial issues | |
Do they have experience and expertise in abuse issues? | Ian is on the Children Panel Law Society and is Accredited by Resolution as an expert on domestic abuse. | |
Are they respected on a national level? | Yes, Ian is a member of Resolution's Dispute Resolution Committee. Ian was elected by fellow mediators to the Governing Board of the Family Mediators Association between 2012-2014. He has previously been a member of the Law Society Family Law Committee | |
Are they respected locally? | In 2009 Ian was elected by Devon family solicitors to be the Chair of the Devon branch of Resolution and served a three year term. We most of our referrals get from experienced family law specialist solicitors. | |
Are they the cheapest? | Probably not. We aim to keep our charges competitive and realistic. We believe that their is additional value to clients if the mediator is also a practicing solicitor. See our page on charges. Would you pay less and employ someone less experience with a greater chance of mediation not working? Ultimately you will only know whether you have gained good value at the end of the process |