Knowledge and resources

The best long-term advice involves strategic thinking from a number of angles. Building teams can ensure that all the bases are covered

Social media can be a useful tool for family solicitors to connect with the public and other professionals, publicise campaigns, raise the profile of members and communicate about the work we do. As it can potentially reach a wide audience, we must be careful about how our use of social media impacts on our client-related work.

The Code of Practice and recently updated Good Practice Guides help us put our values into action. They can also help us navigate challenging areas and reduce the likelihood of receiving complaints

The introduction, development and evolution of new methods of resolving family disputes for changing families means there is a need for us all to look at how we communicate as members of Resolution; with our clients, with other members, with our clients’ former partners if they are not represented by a lawyer, with other members of our clients’ families, with other non-member lawyers, barristers, judges, mediators and arbitrators and more widely within the family justice system. Poor communication accounts for the largest number of complaints received by Resolution.

This document is not an abstract set of ideals, but thoroughly rooted in the issues we and our clients face every day

Written correspondence, such as emails or letters, is still the main method of communication in family disputes. The impact of letters and emails can be significant; therefore, consider who the recipient is and what you hope to achieve with the communication.

The Guides to Good Practice build on the Code of Practice by developing the ethos behind it into areas of practice. This guide focuses on referrals to contact centres and the best practice needed in these cases.