Why Choose a Resolution Lawyer?

You may have seen Resolution being discussed on the news or in local media over the course of this week but what is it and what is the benefit of instructing a Resolution lawyer?

Resolution is a community of family professionals who commit to a Code of Practice that promotes a constructive approach to family separation that benefits the whole family. Each year, Resolution run a national campaign to raise awareness about a particular area of law. This year, to celebrate their 40^th Anniversary, Resolution are using their Awareness Week (previously called ‘Good Divorce Week’) to launch their Vision for Family Justice, focusing on the need for cohabitation reform and the importance of early legal advice over the course of the week.

Resolution was founded by a group of family lawyers who believed that by following a non-confrontational approach in relation to family issues, this would result in more positive results for separating families and their children. This is enshrined in the Resolution Code of Practice, which all members sign up to and provides that all Resolution members will:

• Reduce or manage any conflict and confrontation; for example, by not using inflammatory language.
• Support and encourage families to put the best interests of any children first.
• Act with honesty, integrity and objectivity.
• Help clients understand and manage the potential long-term financial and emotional consequences of decisions.
• Listen to and treat everyone with respect and without judgment.
• Use their experience and knowledge to guide clients through the options available to them.
• Continually develop their knowledge and skills.
• Use the Resolution Guides to Good Practice in their day-to-day work.

Resolution members are not only solicitors but also include many barristers, financial planners and family mediators, as well as other professionals who are committed to this constructive approach. Membership is completely voluntary – you do not have to join Resolution in order to become a family lawyer. As is clear from the above, those who do make the decision to join Resolution are doing so in order to do their best to assist families to resolve the issues surrounding their separation in order to achieve the best result but without unnecessary conflict.

What is the Benefit of Choosing a Resolution Lawyer?

Choosing a family lawyer can be a difficult decision. It is important to choose someone who has the right knowledge and training to represent you properly and give you the most considered advice. You should choose a lawyer that you trust and feel has empathy towards you but at the same time, also brings some level of balance to help you see things from another perspective. In addition to those elements, a separation can be difficult enough to navigate without the professionals who are instructed contributing to (and in some cases) increasing the tension, which can only make an already difficult situation much more stressful.

By choosing a Resolution lawyer, you are selecting someone who has both the requisite experience to advise you properly but who will also endeavour to resolve matters with the least possible hostility. This does not mean that your lawyer will advise you to concede on all fronts or just ‘roll over’ but instead means that they will focus on progressing your matter and reducing acrimony wherever possible at all times.

By choosing a Resolution lawyer, you can expect them to:

• Listen to you, be honest with you and treat you with respect.
• Explain all the options and give you confidence to make the right decisions.
• Help you focus on what’s important in the long-term.
• Help you balance financial and emotional costs with what you want to achieve.
• Work with others to find the right approach and the best solutions for you.
• Manage stress in what can be an already stressful situation.

Resolution lawyers also take this approach one step further by working to highlight areas where reform is needed in order to better help families who are facing separation or divorce. This year, in their Vision for Family Justice, Resolution are focusing on cohabitation and the rights of separating unmarried couples, calling for a raft of changes to policy, legislation and processes in order to improve the lives of children and families. In the past, Resolution’s regular campaigning for the need to reduce the acrimony of the divorce process successfully led to the relatively recent change to a No Fault divorce system. We have already seen that this has resulted in a more straightforward process for a number of people, which has in turn led to a reduction in acrimony and ultimately, costs.

IBB’s family team are all dedicated members of Resolution and strive to uphold its values in every matter in which they are instructed.

It is vitally important for all couples who are separating to investigate all options in relation to their legal rights at an early stage. This can often save you money in the long run. Please do not hesitate to contact the family team at IBB should you require assistance in relation to any aspect of the breakdown of a relationship.

Speak to our Family Law experts

Our caring, sensitive family team here at IBB Law can help you through that turmoil.

Should you wish to speak to someone regarding the above, or in relation to any other family law matter, please contact a member of the family team on 03456 381 381 or email us at enquiries@ibblaw.co.uk.

Catherine O’Reilly is a Senior Associate within the family team and can be contacted on 01494790068 or catherine.oreilly@ibblaw.co.uk.