Resolution - doing family law right

Resolution- doing family law right.

‘resolution’ was set up in 1982 by a small group of family solicitors who were generally worried about the increasing hostility evidenced in solicitor correspondence.  It has never been in the best interests of the clients or their children for family proceedings to be conducted with aggression.  It is common sense that costs will spiral, positions will become entrenched, and outcomes will be protracted and bitter unless the heat is taken out of negotiations.

I am a family solicitor, and I have been a member of resolution (formerly the Solicitors Family Law Association) since I qualified in 1996.  I joined resolution because I also believe that family law disputes can and should be resolved in a constructive, not combative, way.

Upon joining the organisation, you are invited to attend a training day where you sign up to a code of practice to adopt in your day-to-day work.  The approach to family law cases is emphasised to be conciliatory.  The Code of Practice is as follows:

Resolution membership is about the approach we take to our work; this means Resolution members will:

• Reduce or manage any conflict and confrontation; for example, by not using inflammatory language.

• Support and encourage families to put the best interests of any children first.

• Act with honesty, integrity and objectivity.

• Help clients understand and manage the potential long-term financial and emotional consequences of decisions.

• Listen to and treat everyone with respect and without judgment.

• Use my experience and knowledge to guide clients through the options available to them.

• Continually develop my knowledge and skills.

• Use the Resolution Guides to Good Practice in my day-to-day work.

And work with other Resolution members to uphold this Code and ensure it is at the heart of everything I do.

It’s so simple; yet powerful, isn’t it?  And I can attest that it really works!  I apply these principles to my practice as a lawyer.  I find the clients appreciate it and value the effort to resolve rather than litigate.  

Resolution creates a lot of useful content for its members to use in their practice.  Good Practice Guides, Guidance Notes and Handbooks are available and cover practically every area of family law; from communication and correspondence to safeguarding children and young people, dealing with social media, drafting documents, funding options, working with litigants in person, and much, much more.   I think that using these guides has enabled me to enhance my skills and keep my practice current.  I read resolution publication ‘The Review’ to appraise myself of updates in family law and to catch up on what is happening in our industry.  I see all this content as invaluable to my practice as a family lawyer.

Resolution has announced that 2025 is the organisation’s ‘Year of the Code’.  We are reminded of its importance to our work.  I agree.  I actively encourage my department team to join resolution, and I advocate the use of the Practice Guides.  I am doing my bit by sharing the Code of Practice and promoting this amazing organisation which works so hard behind the scenes to make family law practice a little bit easier to understand and navigate for our clients.

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