By choosing to use solicitor assisted mediation, you can take advice and discuss matters with your solicitor on the spot. You can make agreements with the benefit of their guidance that can then be filed with the Family Court.

Solicitor assisted mediation will often resolve a dispute in a fraction of the time it would take to have your disagreement dealt with through the Court or with solicitors alone; and cost many thousands of dollars. It is worth noting that to take a financial matter through the Family Court can take up to 3.5 years to reach a final agreement. Equally, using solicitors to negotiate for you, can take many months to reach agreement and cost many thousands of dollars. Mediated agreements typically take weeks not months to negotiate.

Solicitor Assisted FDR is also beneficial when there are family violence issues and you have been disqualified from using conventional mediation. It can also assist if you intend to make any agreements with your former partner enforceable court orders.

Bayside Mediation collaborates with a number of established Legal Services to provide Solicitor Assisted FDR. In some cases, we can assist you to find legal representation, or you can bring your existing solicitor. Either way, both parties are required to have a solicitor present in order for this process to occur.