Sandra Davis' Week: Mediation is not only solution to justice budget deficit

The impact parental separation has on children particularly in relation to their emotional educational and social development depends very much on the extent of any conflict that exists between the adults involved. 

The traditional forum for the resolution of parental dispute whether simple or intractable has been the Courts.  This is despite the fact that these disputes are in many cases as much emotional as they are legal.

The consequence of the Government's comprehensive spending review is that the Public Sector faces stark choices in relation to the provision of services. This is particularly true in the case of Family Justice System. 

The budgetary constraints facing the Ministry of Justice will inevitably mean there are fewer Courts and less Judges available to adjudicate on disputes between parents.  And with the Government looking to save £350M on the legal aid budget the recent victory by the Law Society against the Legal Services...

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