Young Lawyers - Mandeep Dhami: Should parties to family disputes be required to mediate?

For a number of years mediation has been recognised as being a form of alternative dispute resolution. In appropriate cases it has been an option considered by parties as a way of trying to compromise their family disputes. I recall that since the days when I was a trainee solicitor I quickly noticed how mediation was being endorsed where ever possible by various people involved in the family law world and public sector agencies.

Part 3 of the Family Procedure Rules 2010 now means that in the vast number of family proceedings parties will be required to receive information about the benefits of alternative dispute resolution before commencing family proceedings. They must now attend what is known as a Mediation and Information Assessment Meeting (MIAM).

With mediation being the most common form of alternative dispute resolution for family law matters it seems to me that this will continue to be an option considered by parties when looking to...

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