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Buckles Solicitors poised to launch new family law project with Relate
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Law firm
Buckles Solicitors has teamed up with relationship experts Relate to launch an
exclusive initiative to try and keep divorcing couples out of the courtroom.
The new
partnership – which is thought to be the first of its kind in the country –
will aim to ease the impact of any relationship breakdown on children and other
family members by simplifying the legal process.
The service
is being introduced next month, and will be available to people in the
Peterborough and Stamford areas, offered through a collaboration between Relate
and Buckles’ Family Department.
As part
of the Buckles’ divorce package, it
will offer the client three counselling sessions with Relate whilst they are
going through the legal process.
Partner Lyn
Brisley heads up the Family Department. She explained:
'Having canvassed what a
divorce means to people, we have seen that it inevitably strikes fear in people
for many different reasons.
There
is the terribly harsh pain of loss and betrayal of a loved one. Then there is
fear and insecurity for the future. Naturally there is deep concern about the
way the split will affect the children.'
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Lyn is keen to dispel the myth that the
divorce procedure centres around ‘scary lawyers and court room drama’.
She believes the new partnership approach
will also ease the burden on the courts, in cases where people who cannot
afford a solicitor represent themselves.
The partnership was born following a talk by experts at
Relate to Buckles family lawyers about the extent of its work, and the
different circumstances and people using the service.
Lyn added:
'As a result, Buckles Solicitors and Relate have agreed to adopt a clear
partnership which we see as a win/win situation.
We are very aware
that our clients are going through shock, anger, grief, fear, and a whole
spectrum of emotions that get in the way of them being able to make measured
decisions.
The decisions that
we ask our clients to make are vital, difficult, and will stay with them for
the rest of their lives, and yet they are probably in the worst place emotionally
to be able to make those sensible decisions.
As lawyers we
cannot fall into the trap of giving anything other than legal advice. So with
Relate being able to support a person’s emotional wellbeing at this time can be
highly beneficial to the client, and also to us – the instructions that we
receive from our client become more co-herent and measured, making their experience more meaningful, and in
turn our own job more meaningful.'
In preparation for
the launch, staff within the Family Department will undergo a Relate training
course to help them explore necessary skills for managing difficult and
emotional interviews, help with their own communication skills, and practice
managing a variety of emotions.
A series of supervision
sessions to provide support to the lawyers will also form part of the
initiative.
