Those involved in dispute resolution say that mediation has the potential to “revolutionise the British legal system”.
National Family Mediation, the UK’s biggest family mediation service, has seen applications to train as a mediator double in the last year alone while TCM, the biggest workplace mediation service saw applications rise tenfold within the second half of last year. Those involved say that with the country on the verge of recession once again more people are seeking ways to avoid the courts and the resulting legal fees, so mediation is one of the few professions which is expanding at the present time.
National Family Mediation says that the average cost of mediation, which is between £1,200 and £1,400 is far cheaper than the £14,000 it can often cost for those couples whose divorce proceedings go before the courts. David Liddle, founder of TCM, says that the growth of mediation is evidence that the old adversarial approach has failed and that more people are looking at other ways of solving differences.
The government has added its backing to the growing sector, spending £25m in support of mediation services and comes at a time when it is hoping to cut legal aid by £350m a year, meaning that most of those involved in private family law, clinical negligence, employment and immigration cases will no longer be eligible for funding from the taxpayer.
However, Resolution, which represents 6,000 family lawyers, urged caution and said that mediation may be unsuitable in as many as 40% of divorce cases. A spokesman said that while there are now more incentives to seek mediation, it shouldn’t be seen as the “be all and end all”. He added that while it can be very useful, it isn’t always the answer.