Few aspects of family law deal with pleasant or positive circumstances, but established legal firms such as Barlow Robbins LLP aim to help families cope in times of great difficulty. Whilst strict application of the law is obviously important to legal firms, the secondary role of most family solicitors is that of mediator. In other words, a family lawyer provides the head for solving complex legal issues and the shoulders for supporting the emotional needs of clients.
There are few darker experiences than divorce, which affects more than 110,000 married couples in the UK each year. Whilst some divorces are amicable, others are difficult, messy and acrimonious. The worst cases almost always involve children, who feel the strain and emotional turmoil more than anyone. Family law solicitors cannot undo the damage caused by a divorce, but they do try to make the situation more pleasant for those concerned.
Barlow Robbins and other top firms strive to ensure that family solicitors are effective communicators as much as they are highly trained legal eagles. There are various points of a divorce, custody battle or other family related dispute that require a sensitive ear and careful approach. Applying the law without due care and attention can often cause more harm than good. In many ways, family law solicitors must nurse their clients through a dispute.
There are various ways in which family solicitors act as mediators to help families through difficult times. If children are affected, the law firms dealing with a case must balance the wishes of their client with the best interests of children. Victory is rarely sought in cases that could be better resolved by discussing issues that affect children in a reasoned, considerate manner.
The problem in most cases is that a divorce is very often a bitter affair. An estranged couple may be filled with considerable hate and resentment when it comes to thrashing out terms and reaching agreements before proceeding to court. Children are often caught in the middle. One of the more positive roles of a family law solicitor is helping couples realise that the best way to proceed with a divorce is to look at what is fair and just for all concerned, not how best to hurt each other.
