New public funding award for Smith Partnership Mediation Team
The Legal Services Commission has today (22June) announced that Smith Partnership solicitors have been awarded a mediation contract for clients eligible for public funding.
Smith Partnership has one of the largest matrimonial teams in the East Midlands with twenty three fee earners at various offices. Last year a decision was made to expand the team further with the appointment of Janet Riley to spearhead its new mediation practice. The firm has now been granted a contract by the Legal Services Commission to provide mediation services for clients eligible for public funding. The contract comes into force on 1st October 2010 and will be in addition to mediation services currently offered by the firm to private clients.
With increasing pressure on the legal aid budget, the Government has placed a priority on mediation services which generally result in a swifter, cheaper and more amicable resolution than the court process. Janet is assisted in the mediation team by Ruth Jones, a partner in the firm and Head of the Family Department.
Janet Riley says “This is a major achievement for Smith Partnership. We are already large providers of quality services with the LSC and for private clients, but this is the first time we have had a mediation contract for clients eligible for public funding and it brings with it recognition of the quality service we provide”.
For further details about the publicly funded or private client mediation available, please contact Janet Riley on 01332 225216 or email janet.riley@smithpartnership.co.uk.