Guest Speaker: Dr Rachael Blakey, University of Warwick Law School

Title of Talk: (Work-In-Progress) Family Mediation in the Contemporary System: How Have Mediators Adapted?

Abstract: Family mediation was first introduced in England and Wales as an alternative to the court system, mainly for divorcing couples. Several decades later, family mediation is now presented as the optimum process for most private family matters. Legal aid for private family disputes in court has been removed, and family mediators subsequently see a diverse and complex client base with little access to legal support. More recently, the Ministry of Justice announced proposals to make ‘reasonable attempt’ at family mediation mandatory. Where the reinstatement of legal aid is unlikely, calls have increased for family mediators to adapt to this change in clientele. A significant question arises: can family mediators actually adapt? Furthermore, how does this development impact the meaning of (family) justice?