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<copyright>Copyright &#169; 2012 Lanyon Bowdler Solicitors</copyright>
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<description>Lanyon Bowlder Solicitors blog.</description>
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<title><![CDATA[Collaborative Law Looks Set to Revolutionise the Resolution of Family Issues]]></title>
<link>http://blog.lblaw.co.uk/collaborative-law-looks-set-to-revolutionise-the-resolution-of-family-issues-342/</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Collaborative family law is an exciting new idea in the UK.  It is growing rapidly and looks set to revolutionise for many people the way in which family issues are resolved. So, what exactly is collaborative law?  Traditionally, the options available to separating couples have either been mediation or traditional negotiation and litigation.  Collaborative law offers a third way.  The parties each appoint their own lawyer, but instead of conducting negotiations by letter or by phone, all discussions take place at meetings to work issues out face to face. This means the parties each have their lawyers by their side throughout the process. The parties have continuous support and legal advice as matters proceed.  Collaborative lawyers sign an agreement with their clients which disqualifies them from representing the client in court if the collaborative process breaks down.   The effect of this agreement means that the lawyers are absolutely committed to helping find the best solutions for the parties by agreement, rather than through conflict. Sometimes only a couple of meetings are needed - on other occasions four or five.  The meetings follow agendas set by the parties themselves and their lawyers.   This is an effective way of giving the individuals control over the process and ensures that the issues which are important to them are discussed and dealt with.Locally, the Shropshire Lawyers Collaborative Group is a collection of like-minded, specialist trained family solicitors.The revolutionary concept is that although from different firms, lawyer members of this group work collectively to promote the collaborative model as a civilised, non adversarial process to enable separating couples to resolve children and financial issues by agreement, rather than the court process.  The Shropshire Collaborative Law Group held a launch party on Thursday 24th November at Lanyon Bowdlers Shrewsbury offices.   In addition to announcing the launch of the group, the purpose of the meeting was to invite a mixed group of professionals from a variety of different agencies, organisations and disciplines who work in the field of family law ranging from professionals working with children to financial advice. It is important that any party choosing collaborative law as an option for their divorce makes sure their lawyer has had Resolution training in collaborative law.  If you think collaborative law could be the best way to resolve your domestic conflict, or if you would like to find out more about this method of resolving legal disputes, you can contact myself or my fellow collaborative law colleagues Peter Flint and Colin Spanner on 0800 652 3371. 
]]></description>
<category><![CDATA[Divorce and Family]]></category>
<pubDate>Mon, 28 Nov 2011 10:59:29 +0000</pubDate>
<guid>http://blog.lblaw.co.uk/collaborative-law-looks-set-to-revolutionise-the-resolution-of-family-issues-342/</guid>
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<title><![CDATA[The True Impact of Legal Aid Cuts]]></title>
<link>http://blog.lblaw.co.uk/the-true-impact-of-legal-aid-cuts-335/</link>
<description><![CDATA[
It is high time the consequences of the legal aid cuts are brought to light. The government aims to save money, saying 2 billion a year is an expensive legal aid system, but that presumably also includes the criminal legal aid budget. 
The proposed cuts will directly impact upon separating couples, and cases involving disputes over the residence of children, as current proposals are to take out of scope altogether, funding for these issues. The only funding that will remain will be where the local authority is looking at bringing care proceedings and in cases of domestic violence for the victims, but not the perpetrators of the violence.  
The practical effect will be that in cases of domestic violence the perpetrator could well cross-examine the victim, with only the judge to prevent a barrage of hostile and inappropriate questions being put. The reality is that once victims of domestic violence realise this is the risk they run in trying to obtain orders from the court to protect them, they may simply chose to put up with the violence rather than seek the protection they deserve.
There is little point in the government offering funding for victims to seek orders from the court if the procedure itself and lack of funding for legal representation of the perpetrator, enables confrontations, accusations, bullying or even the fear of all three to exist.
The reality for separating couples will be that the higher earning party may chose to pay for legal representation while typically the part-time worker or homemaker is unable to, and so has to resort to representing him or herself.  
Imagine the distress at a point in time when the relationship has broken down and there are so many anxieties over what will happen to the home, the children and managing the financial obligations, to be unable to afford advice through a litigious procedure which quite often does end up in court. 
The government thinks that mediation will be the answer for all, but this is quite a middle-class assumption. Not all separating couples will have the emotional strength to go through with face to face meetings, even if they were on a level playing field in negotiating. The mediator is unable to give legal advice, so mediation is not really a solution at all.
I suspect the lack of access to legal representation for the lower income earner will result in more costly applications to the court, not fewer. Without advice, the party may simply hope it will all go away and bury their head in the sand requiring the other party to have to bring court proceedings to get a decision.  
Alternatively, without advice the other party may decide defence is the best policy and devote all their time and effort challenging everything proposed, mixing legal argument with emotional issues, being unaware of what they should be putting forward as their legal arguments and resulting in the local district judges having to spend their time, and tax payers money, in more frequent and lengthy court appointments to make sense of the mess.  
The third reality is in relation to children matters. Imagine a young unmarried couple separate, father of the child is not named on the birth certificate and not working, mother has a new boyfriend and decides he can be the father figure to the child. She changes the childs surname to the new boyfriends and decides that the father does not need to carry on seeing the child anymore, that will simply confuse him. What then happens to the father of the child who cannot afford to pay for private legal advice? What about the rights of the child to know and have a relationship with his father?
On all of the above examples where is the right to family life? Where is the right to a fair hearing? Is it fair that peoples legal rights should be subject to whether they can afford to pay to uphold them?  
At Lanyon Bowdler we continue to offer public funding because we consider these principles important to both individuals and society at large.  For how much longer we will be able to offer such services to all the local community in light of the proposals, remains to be seen.
If you would like advice or assistance in relation to a  family law issue, contact me on 01952 291222 or email me lisa.grimmett@lblaw.co.uk. ]]></description>
<category><![CDATA[Divorce and Family]]></category>
<pubDate>Tue, 25 Oct 2011 15:10:20 +0000</pubDate>
<guid>http://blog.lblaw.co.uk/the-true-impact-of-legal-aid-cuts-335/</guid>
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<title><![CDATA[Disappointment in the Government's Decision to Take a 'U' Turn on Cohabitation Legislation]]></title>
<link>http://blog.lblaw.co.uk/disappointment-in-the-governments-decision-to-take-a-u-turn-on-cohabitation-legislation-333/</link>
<description><![CDATA[
I think it will have come as a surprise (and also a disappointment) to Family Law Practitioners, that the Government has decided not to bring in legislation which would have rationalised and simplified the present legal position with regard to cohabiting couples. At present this is a particularly grey and complex area of the law and, in the view of many if not all Family Law Practitioners, is one in urgent need of being addressed.Legislation with regard to cohabiting couples in Scotland was brought in by the Scottish Parliament a few years ago and, as I understand it, our Government has been monitoring the effect of that before deciding whether to bring in legislation in England. At the present time case law has resulted in the financial rights (or the lack of them) of cohabiting couples being very different to the rights of parties who are or have been married, and it was expected that the Government would pass legislation giving fairly (but not the same) rights to cohabiting couples as those enjoyed by married couples.There exists under the present Law a number of grey areas in relation to cohabiting couples financial rights, and the Law based on previous Court decisions can work unfairly, particularly where a couple have cohabited for a number of years.I believe that the proposals which had been mooted included cohabiting couples acquiring property rights  and also rights to maintenance  once they had cohabited for a specified period of time, (this was anticipated to be between at least two and five years), with a possible adjustment to that period of time if there were children of the relationship. In particular those rights would have included the acquisition of an interest in the family home, even if that property was owned in the sole name of one of the cohabitees and the other cohabitee had made no financial contribution towards it; together with the right to make a claim for maintenance (in addition of course to existing rights in relation maintenance of any children).Therefore the status quo remains the same. In particular the acquisition of an interest in the family home by a cohabitee can in certain cases be an extremely complicated matter including, for example, the consideration of whether a constructive trust may apply. Obviously the benefits of having a Cohabitation Agreement is to put in place what rights each of a cohabiting couple will have in the event of their relationship breaking down. Assuming that the provisions to be included in such a Cohabitation Agreement can be agreed, then such an Agreement can be drawn up, signed and completed within a matter of a few weeks. The cost involved obviously depends on how complex the issues are, but a fairly standard Cohabitation Agreement would probably involve costs in the region of 1,000.00 - 1,200.00 plus VAT. As with Pre-nuptial Agreements it is very important that each party is legally represented, or at the very least has had the opportunity of taking independent legal advice; the Agreement must be entered into freely without any duress by one party upon the other; and each party should provide full details of their incomes, assets and liabilities which should be referred to in the Agreement. Also, as with Pre-nuptial Agreements, the whole concept of entering into a Cohabitation Agreement, perhaps at the outset of the relationship, is a somewhat unromantic one and one which needs to be handled sensitively. As referred to above, it does of course give the couple the opportunity of defining what their rights will be in the unfortunate event of their relationship breaking down, which would be of benefit not only to themselves but for any children which they may have; and also will avoid what could amount to significant legal costs if issues do arise on the breakdown of their relationship which have to be determined by the Court.  Far better to reach a sensible and amicable agreement with regard to those issues, than for a Judge to have to determine those issues with all the consequent costs, uncertainty and probably ill-feeling which that would involve.If you would like to find out more contact me Peter Flint on 01743 280280 or email peter.flint@lblaw.co.uk.  
]]></description>
<category><![CDATA[Divorce and Family]]></category>
<pubDate>Wed, 19 Oct 2011 14:49:04 +0000</pubDate>
<guid>http://blog.lblaw.co.uk/disappointment-in-the-governments-decision-to-take-a-u-turn-on-cohabitation-legislation-333/</guid>
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<title><![CDATA[Women's Aid 'One Stop Shop' - A Helping Hand For Victims of Domestic Violence]]></title>
<link>http://blog.lblaw.co.uk/womens-aid-one-stop-shop-a-helping-hand-for-victims-of-domestic-violence-275/</link>
<description><![CDATA[
I attended the Women's Aid event on Tuesday 8 March to help launch their new "one-stop shop", the idea being to develop a network of services (outreach, housing assistance, debt advice, legal advice, police support) etc in one place for women experiencing domestic abuse, rather than the women having to try to locate and access these services themselves. The new website is http://www.wrexhamwomensaid.org.uk/ It was launched by Tim Vincent (former Blue Peter presenter, Miss World presenter and Dancing on Ice star - although I had to google him beforehand!) who is from Wrexham originally. The event was attended by local councillors, the Police, Social Services, Age Concern and Barnardos among others. There were short presentations by the main regional coordinator for DV services, the leader of the Safer Communities Partnership, Women's Aid's Financial Director then myself and Councillor Aled Roberts before Tim Vincent formally launched the website. I based my brief talk around my estimate that I had seen about 175 women at the drop-in centre in the last couple of years and how, at first glance, this is an alarming figure of women experiencing abuse in one town but, on the other hand, is positive in that 175 women have been brave enough to confront a taboo and acknowledge they are experiencing domestic abuse, then seek help for it.  I emphasised the supportive atmosphere and the knowledge of the drop-in centre staff and the benefit for women, some of whom may have had to flee from elsewhere in the country, of being able to get all their support in one place quickly rather than try to identify places and resources for themselves at an already difficult time. In the afternoon I attended a taster session of the Freedom course, with 8 other professionals.  The Freedom Course has been running in Shropshire and Wrexham for a number of years and I have been referring women onto it for about 5 years.  Many have benefited from it and gone on to become course leaders themselves, an incredible achievement for a woman who might have spent years being told by an abusive partner that she is stupid, worthless, etc...... http://www.wrexhamwomensaid.org.uk/information/freedom-programme Even though all the professionals there are experienced DV workers and we tend to think that we have heard it all from clients, some of the examples and stories we heard were real eye-openers.  This is not because of the physical severity but just because of the subtle nature of the abuse, for example husbands who photograph the bed every morning and if it looks at all different when they come home then they would assume the woman has had another man there and may beat her up, or the man who bought his partner a new expensive mobile phone and the Women's Aid staff checked it and found, as they suspected, that it had been fitted with a tracking device so he could keep tabs on her. Another woman had to take a photograph of herself in the supermarket and text it to her boyfriend if she took any more than 20 minutes with the shopping so he knew where she was.......  I could go on! It was a challenging afternoon - even for those of us who are not experiencing this abuse and simply work with the victims of it, but a real eye-opener and I can honestly say that it made an immediate difference in the way I advised three women the following day.]]></description>
<category><![CDATA[Divorce and Family]]></category>
<pubDate>Fri, 11 Mar 2011 16:41:13 +0000</pubDate>
<guid>http://blog.lblaw.co.uk/womens-aid-one-stop-shop-a-helping-hand-for-victims-of-domestic-violence-275/</guid>
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<title><![CDATA[Divorcing Couples Must Look at Mediation Route Before Going to Court]]></title>
<link>http://blog.lblaw.co.uk/divorcing-couples-must-look-at-mediation-route-before-going-to-court-268/</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Todays news highlights that the Government is to introduce a system whereby all couples who intend to divorce or separate must attend a preliminary mediation intake meeting so that an assessment can be made as to whether their case is suitable for mediation. 
Mediation is a way of resolving by agreement issues which arise following the breakdown of a relationship.  It is an alternative to having those issues resolved by the Courts, or through matters being dealt with by the couples respective solicitors.  Generally speaking, it is a quicker and cheaper method of resolving issues, and over the past few years has proved popular with couples who have entered into it, and the mediation success rate is relatively high. 
For several years now it has been compulsory for a person who wishes to apply for Public Funding (Legal Aid) to cover their legal costs of resolving relationship breakdown disputes, to attend a mediation intake meeting before the Legal Services Commission will be prepared to consider an application for Public Funding.  This system is now to be extended across the board.
Mediation has proved itself a good way of resolving financial and other issues between separating couples and, in particular, sorting out the arrangements for their children.
The mediation process involves the couple attending a meeting or a series of meetings with a trained mediator, whose job is to work with the couple in assisting them in reaching a fair and reasonable agreement in relation to the issues which need to be resolved. 
However mediation continues to be a purely voluntary process, and of course one of the spouses / cohabitees may simply refuse to take part in mediation.  This will then lead to a situation where the client would have three alternatives: -
1. Instruct their solicitor to represent them on a private fee paying basis (assuming that Legal Aid will not be available to them having regard to the Governments proposed cutbacks in Legal Aid);
2. Represent themselves during the process and in Court, which may result in them experiencing considerable difficulties and possibly not achieving the best result for themselves which they otherwise could; and is also likely to clog-up the Court process and increase the Courts administrative costs; or
3. Simply decide to continue to live with their partner, which is likely to result in continuing squabbling or other unpleasantness which in turn is likely to have an adverse effect on their children.
For advice and guidance on taking the mediation route, contact our Family Law department on 01743 280257.]]></description>
<category><![CDATA[Divorce and Family]]></category>
<pubDate>Wed, 23 Feb 2011 09:52:45 +0000</pubDate>
<guid>http://blog.lblaw.co.uk/divorcing-couples-must-look-at-mediation-route-before-going-to-court-268/</guid>
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<title><![CDATA[How to go about applying for a Training Contract at Lanyon Bowdler]]></title>
<link>http://blog.lblaw.co.uk/how-to-go-about-applying-for-a-training-contract-at-lanyon-bowdler-256/</link>
<description><![CDATA[
We are now approaching the time of year when the deadline closes for applications for training contracts. Training partner Colin Spanner and current trainees Lynsey Cater and Louise Howard answer questions on what Lanyon Bowdler look for in a trainee and what to expect.
Why Lanyon Bowdler?
As a firm Lanyon Bowdler is modern and very client focused. The firm provides a full range of legal advice throughout Shropshire and Herefordshire, as well as nationally. Having previously been winners of Lawcareers.Nets Trainee Solicitor Award for Best Recruiter  Small Firm in 2009 (also winner in 2004 and nominated 2007 & 2008), the firm was nominated in the Best Trainer category of these awards in 2010.
The firm is recognised as Investors in People and our commitment to training and development was acknowledged in 2009 when we won the Training Award at the Midlands Business Awards. 2010 also saw us win the Law Firm of the Year (5 - 15 partners) at the Birmingham Law Society Legal Awards.
How many trainees do you take on?
At Lanyon Bowdler the policy is to offer two training contracts each year. As a training contract lasts two years, we therefore have four trainees at any one time, with two joining in September each year.
How many applications do you receive?
Each year we are inundated with applications for training contracts. This is especially so as not many local firms regularly take on trainees. This year we received 270 applications for a contract in 2011.
When is the closing date?
All positions for 2011 have now been filled. Applications for 2012 need to be submitted by 31 January 2011.
What do you look for in potential trainees?
To begin with, good academic records, and not just at degree level. We look back as far as GCSEs and A Levels. It is also important that a potential candidate is local to the area, or has connections with it, as we do like to retain our trainees. Hobbies and interests are also of relevance, as someone who has taken a year out or done some voluntary work shows that they have made the extra effort  this may give them an advantage over someone with identical qualifications.
What areas of law do trainees have seats in?
Trainees usually spend six months in a department so that over the contract period they gain experience in four areas of work, one of which will be contentious. Lanyon Bowdler has a wide range of legal departments and where possible, trainees are given a choice of seats.
What can I expect if I am invited to interview?
Lynsey Cater said when I was interviewed there was a two stage process but no presentation. I was asked questions which were aimed at the particular stage I was at and what I was studying at the time.
Louise Howards experience was a first general interview which included talking about the details on my CV, (I was so nervous I couldnt remember what A-Levels I had done and had to be prompted), and legal questions. The questions were tailored to the stage of my training, for example I hadnt yet completed the LPC so they concentrated on areas of law I would have covered on the CPE. The second interview included questions on current affairs where the interviewers clearly wanted to hear you talk and see how you reasoned about a particular situation.
What can I expect if I am offered a Training Contract?
The SRA requirement is that once a training contract has started, the trainee needs to keep a training record which must be completed throughout the two year period and submitted to the training principal at the end. It should record all the tasks completed whilst being a trainee and includes information such as  who the task was completed for, what the task was, what skills were used and what was learnt from it. 
There are also the compulsory modules of the Professional Skills Course to complete. These cover client care, finance and business skills, advocacy and communication. There are a further four elective modules which you chose according to what areas of law you are interested in.and just when you think all exams are over, theres a finance exam!
What happens then?
Lanyon Bowdler has an excellent record of retaining its trainees. The range of areas of law covered by the firm offers great opportunities for those wishing to train in law.
Lynsey Cater is now a fully qualified solicitor and working in Lanyon Bowdlers Commercial Property Department and Louise Howard is currently in her last seat and due to complete her training contract in September 2011.]]></description>
<category><![CDATA[Lanyon Bowdler News]]></category>
<pubDate>Tue, 11 Jan 2011 11:50:18 +0000</pubDate>
<guid>http://blog.lblaw.co.uk/how-to-go-about-applying-for-a-training-contract-at-lanyon-bowdler-256/</guid>
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<title><![CDATA[Debt Advice for the New Year]]></title>
<link>http://blog.lblaw.co.uk/debt-advice-for-the-new-year-253/</link>
<description><![CDATA[
With the Christmas and New Year festivities over, now is the time when people review their spending habits and take stock of the true cost of Christmas. With the increase in VAT, and rises in fuel prices, the financial forecast for 2011 is cautious, with the government already warning of a difficult financial year ahead.  Come January, people find themselves in a situation where previous financial worries are amplified by the bills arriving from the festive season. Piles of unopened envelopes, ignoring the phone, constant worry and sleepless nights - these are just some of the symptoms of debt denial.  
Naturally the credit card bills start to arrive from January and people enter into the New Year burdened with debt as a result of overspending at Christmas time.  Each month brings new reasons to hide further under the duvet and simply hope for the best.  
You are not alone.  The UK debt help market has never been busier, as a massive percentage of the nations consumers continue to struggle to cope with their finances in the wake of the credit crunch. 
However serious your debt problems are, you need to be proactive in sorting them out.  Sitting at home worrying isnt going to fix anything and neither will denial.  If you have serious debt problems then you have to take decisive action.   If you find yourself in this black hole and seem to be falling deeper and deeper you need to seek advice from an experienced debt professional.  Lanyon Bowdler have the experience to guide you through this difficult time and help you to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Lanyon Bowdler are currently offering 30 minutes free debt advice, and an appointment can be arranged by contacting Gary Sans on 0800 6523374 or gary.sans@lblaw.co.uk. ]]></description>
<category><![CDATA[Debt Recovery]]></category>
<pubDate>Tue, 04 Jan 2011 15:45:39 +0000</pubDate>
<guid>http://blog.lblaw.co.uk/debt-advice-for-the-new-year-253/</guid>
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<title><![CDATA[Mediation &amp; Collaborative Law - A Quicker &amp; More Popular Route to Resolving Marital Disputes?]]></title>
<link>http://blog.lblaw.co.uk/mediation-collaborative-law-a-quicker-more-popular-route-to-resolving-marital-disputes-221/</link>
<description><![CDATA[The following formed the next questions I asked Head of Family & Senior Partner Peter Flint.Why are they becoming more popular  is it purely down to the cost or does the process help retain some form of civilized relationship?  Peter replied "Generally speaking, if successful the costs involved in mediation and in the collaborative law approach will be less than having the issues in dispute resolved through Court proceedings, particularly if at no stage of those Court proceedings can an agreement be reached and the matter has to proceed to a Final Hearing before a Judge.  Additionally it seems that clients are now more willing to be encouraged to seek an agreement which is fair and reasonable for each of them (which in turn will be of benefit to the children), rather than adopting the historic adversarial approach."I then wanted to know whether these processes were quicker than the traditional methods of going through the Courts to resolve dispute  and if so, why?Peter explained "Both mediation and collaborative law are quicker methods of achieving resolution of issues arising out of breakdown of a relationship than pursuing those issues through Court proceedings.  Not only are Court proceedings costly but they also involve quite a lengthy process mainly as a result of the various steps which have to be taken by each party during the course of the proceedings and also due to the Courts waiting lists which in most instances are lengthy."Seems to me, anyone looking to resolve a marital dispute would be wise to consider one of these methods.  It you would like more information, or would like to speak with someone about collaborative law or mediation, contact Peter Flint on 01743 280280 or email him at peter.flint@lblaw.co.uk.]]></description>
<category><![CDATA[Divorce and Family]]></category>
<pubDate>Wed, 14 Jul 2010 11:54:01 +0000</pubDate>
<guid>http://blog.lblaw.co.uk/mediation-collaborative-law-a-quicker-more-popular-route-to-resolving-marital-disputes-221/</guid>
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<title><![CDATA[The Differences Between Mediation and Collaborative Law]]></title>
<link>http://blog.lblaw.co.uk/the-differences-between-mediation-and-collaborative-law-220/</link>
<description><![CDATA[I asked Lanyon Bowdler's Senior Partner and Head of the Family Department Peter Flint, what the key differences are between these two methods of matrimonial dispute resolution?He responded as follows:"For either process a client would need to seek either a fully trained collaborative lawyer or a qualified mediator.  "In mediation the Clients have a meeting or a series of meetings with a mediator, whose function is to work with the clients in assisting them in reaching an agreement to resolve the issues between them.  Although mediators are frequently qualified lawyers, the mediator is not allowed to provide any legal advice during the course of the mediation process.  Mediation is at present purely a voluntary process, and at any stage during the process the clients can go back to their respective solicitors for legal advice.  An agreement reached in mediation is not of itself legally binding.  The agreement can be made legally binding, for example by it being incorporated into a Court order or a Separation Deed."Collaborative Law involves adopting a similar team work approach, but the meetings are held between the clients and their respective collaborative lawyers.  At the outset of the process the Clients have to sign a Participation Agreement in which they agree not to take any Court action or threaten to take any Court action during the collaborative process; that they will work together with their lawyers with a view to achieving a fair and reasonable agreement which will be of benefit to their children; and that if they cannot reach agreement and have to refer their dispute to a Court, then they have to instruct new solicitors to represent each of them."If you feel one of these methods of resolving a dispute could be right for you, contact Peter on 01743 280280 or email him at peter.flint@lblaw.co.uk]]></description>
<category><![CDATA[Divorce and Family]]></category>
<pubDate>Tue, 06 Jul 2010 16:14:14 +0000</pubDate>
<guid>http://blog.lblaw.co.uk/the-differences-between-mediation-and-collaborative-law-220/</guid>
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<title><![CDATA[Christmas Tip No 2 - Don't Get Flustered by Families]]></title>
<link>http://blog.lblaw.co.uk/christmas-tip-no-2-dont-get-flustered-by-families-162/</link>
<description><![CDATA[The festive season can raise stress levels as its often the only time in the year when families spend a lot of time together, or see relatives who you may not have seen for a while.  Sue Hodgson, a solicitor within the family department, advises that the key to having a calm and peaceful Christmas is to keep things in perspective and dont have unrealistic expectations.  She advises If you are under so much pressure to make Christmas perfect, then you may have missed the point.  Try to remember what Christmas is really all about, and appreciate what you have and those around you, as it will often be your family who support you through the most difficult times. Christmas can often be the last straw for those marriages already in trouble however, many couples can survive this stressful time by talking through their problems, or seeking counselling from an organisation such as Relate or mediation from your solicitor.  Not all divorces have to be acrimonious, and often solicitors can work in collaboration to ensure that you to get the best arrangement for your personal circumstances with minimal stress and swift, positive outcomes.  ]]></description>
<category><![CDATA[Divorce and Family]]></category>
<pubDate>Thu, 17 Dec 2009 11:10:00 +0000</pubDate>
<guid>http://blog.lblaw.co.uk/christmas-tip-no-2-dont-get-flustered-by-families-162/</guid>
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