Fitzgerald opens first co-located law centre and family mediation office

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald yesterday opened the Legal Aid Board’s first co-located law centre and family mediation office.

It is hoped the shared facility services will help those seeking civil legal aid or advice in relation to a family problem be steered towards mediation.

Around three quarters of those who seek civil legal aid or advice from the Legal Aid Board do so in relation to a family problem.

John McDaid, chief executive of the Legal Aid Board, said: “The co-location will offer an excellent opportunity to steer or nudge more of those experiencing family breakdown away from the adversarial court process and towards a facilitated negotiation between the parties themselves – the negotiation being facilitated by the mediator. In the longer term mediation may well offer a more efficient means of resolving family problems.

“Importantly it should allow more effective resolutions on the basis that the parties come up with their own solutions at their own pace rather than having solutions imposed upon them, sometimes in a very rushed manner. Avoiding the more adversarial court process should contribute to better relationships into the future.”