Royal firm swots up on mediation

FAMILY lawyers from the firm which acts for Princess Diana are preparing to take mediation training courses now the controversial Family Law Bill has finally been passed.

Mishcon De Reya is one of several firms which approached the Solicitors Family Law Association to enquire about places on its new eight-day mediation course after the Bill passed through the Commons.

Partner Maggie Rae said the firm had already held an in-house course for its lawyers. But she anticipated most of its family lawyers would also attend the extended SFLA course.

"We had been holding off to see what happened to the Bill, but we have always been keen on mediation and I would have thought there will be a lot of interest in attending the course."

The SFLA reports a "mini deluge" of enquiries about the course it launched earlier this year now lawyers are certain the Lord Chancellor's measures to increase mediation have been passed.

The group is already working with the Law Society to draw up minimum training and practice management standards for mediators.