Instructing a Family Lawyer – It doesn’t mean it’s not amicable

Using a lawyer doesn’t mean an increase in conflict., Many family lawyers, including myself and the team at Dutton Gregory, subscribe to the Resolution Code of Practice.  This promotes a constructive approach in dealing with separation, financial and children matters in a way to minimise conflict and keeping the best interests of any children at the heart. We actively advise clients on their options to try and reduce conflict and find a collaborative solution.  We are proud to count collaborative lawyers and mediators among the Family Team.  We can provide advice and assistance to clients in resolving matters through methods of out of court resolution, including negotiation, mediation, collaboration and arbitration.  

Legal practitioners choose to work in family law because they care about people and want to help – I have never come across a lawyer who went to work in family law because they want to argue and create conflict! 

The family team at Dutton Gregory have over 50 years’ experience between us and bring a wealth of knowledge. Despite having acted for thousands of clients over the years, we recognise that each client is unique, and we take the time to understand each client and what is important to them. 

As a progressive firm, Dutton Gregory embraces the use of technology and are always looking for ways to streamline our processes and enhance the client experience. However, we are increasingly seeing clients who have used AI for advice on legal matters and have often been badly misinformed. 

AI and online systems are only as accurate as the data that is inputted, so if you pull information from the internet, this will pull through both the accurate and inaccurate information that is online. Even if you use AI or an online system to generate documents you should still arrange for a qualified professional to review these, especially if they are going to become legally binding and enforceable. There have been a number of cases recently where AI generated documents have been filed with the court containing incorrect, and sometimes fake cases. 

Online companies may propose to offer a cheaper alternative, often using AI to generate documents, but this will only be generic advice. The online system won’t know anything about you and your personal circumstances. An online or AI system is likely to provide incorrect or incomplete advice and can result in a settlement or outcome that is incomplete or unfair.  

Every divorce and family is unique, and the advice and treatment they receive should be too.  

A recent study from the Pension Policy Institute found that typically women end up with £53,160 less in pension assets than their husbands, and that 71% of divorces don’t consider pension assets. The danger of AI and online companies are that they won’t always take the time to analyse the full matrimonial assets, only advising on the data and information that is put into the formula. 

A family lawyer will take the time to get to know you, and will advise you not just on the law, but also how it applies to your circumstances. They should explore and advise you on all possible options. This doesn’t mean increasing conflict or costs, if anything it means the opposite. A lawyer will look at the most time and cost-efficient options, as well as ones that reduce conflict and reach a collaborative, but also fair outcome.   

Instructing a lawyer will mean receiving personal, bespoke and up to date advice on the law and how it applies to your situation. It means personalised advice, and recognition of you and your family as individuals, not being processed by an online system as a name and number 

Our dedicated Family lawyers are on hand to support you.  To arrange an appointment, contact us today on either 02380 221344 or 01202 31500. Alternatively, you can email us at [email protected].