This year’s Family Mediation Week (16-20 January 2023) will see Leeds law firm Clarion host a programme of events designed for both those going through the divorce process and professional advisers to raise awareness of the benefits of family mediation for separating families and couples.

Clarion’s 12-strong team of specialist family lawyers actively promote the use of mediation and are supporting Family Mediation Week, which is organised by the Family Mediation Council (FMC). The aim is to encourage separating couples to consider mediation as a way of helping them take control, make decisions together and build a positive future for them and their family.

Senior associate solicitor and mediator at Clarion, Sarah Manning, is currently chair of the FMC’s Family Mediation Week committee which has organised a series of events which can be found on the FMC’s website: https://www.familymediationcouncil.org.uk/fmw/

Sarah comments: “At Clarion, we are committed to changing mindsets and encouraging clients to use mediation as a more amicable, cheaper and quicker alternative; we see court only as a last resort. Following the success of last year’s Family Mediation Week, the FMC is focused on raising awareness by providing a number of free seminars as well as professionals involved in advising separating families. For example, many separating parents are not aware that the Ministry of Justice is currently offering Family Mediation Vouchers of up to £500 to contribute to the costs of mediation which is not means assessed.

“We are excited to have some great speakers joining us for our week-long programme of events which is particularly relevant at this time of year when many relationships are under pressure. 2023 also sees the launch of ‘The Mediation Pledge’ to actively encourage mediators to work collectively as a community to help raise awareness by committing to undertaking at least one thing during Family Mediation Week to encourage the use of mediation.”

Clarion is hosting a number of events throughout the week:

• Monday 16 January 2023 – 1pm to 2pm (for individuals – webinar style format on Zoom)

Claire Macklin (formerly Black), divorce coach; Justine Osmotherley, solicitor; Sarah Manning, solicitor and mediator; and Lottie Kent, financial adviser, will be discussing ‘Having a divorce team – is it only for the wealthy?’ and how this could potentially save you thousands. There will also be a Q&A.

• Tuesday 17 January 2023 – 11.30am to 12.30pm (for lawyers and mediators– webinar style format on Zoom)

Claire Macklin (formerly Black), divorce coach; and Sarah Manning, solicitor and mediator, will be discussing how Claire, as a divorce coach, can feed into the process of mediation to make your life easier. There will also be a Q&A.

• Thursday 19 January 2023 – 4pm to 5pm (for lawyers and mediators– webinar style format on Zoom)

Chartered financial planner and Resolution accredited divorce specialist Tamsin Caine, assisted by Sarah Manning, solicitor and mediator and Stephanie Douthwaite, Solicitor, will discuss Pensions on Divorce Experts (PODEs).

Following the Pensions Advisory Group report published in 2019, the importance of pensions in divorce was put under the spotlight and the new term, ‘PODE’, came into our vocabulary. However, there are still misunderstandings about the role of PODE and we will seek to address some of these for family mediators.

To register for any of the events, please visit contact Laura Courbet on 0113 336 3348 or at laura.courbet@clarionsolicitors.com .

Family Mediation Week focuses on working collectively to help raise awareness of family mediation among members of the public, solicitors and other professionals working with separated families. The week allows the FMC to create and promote family mediation-specific information.