Press Release 

 

Lawyers value cash over clients, says National Audit Office (NAO)

 

·              Recent NAO research claims that lawyers cost the public close to £10m a year by valuing their profits above their clients

 

·              NAO says that lawyers are failing to inform clients of alternative measures, such as mediation, as they make more money in fees if a case goes to court

 

The National Audit Office has accused the legal profession of putting their profits before their clients’ best interests.  The NAO claims that solicitors do not tell their clients that mediation is a cheaper, quicker, less painful approach to separation and divorce than litigation.  It estimates that this greed costs the taxpayer £10m in legal aid bills, and costs divorcing couples a further £74m. 

 

Families Need Fathers believes these figures are radical under-estimates. John Baker, FNF Chair, said: “The NAO’s figure of £1,682 for a contested divorce is far too low.  FNF calls on the legal profession to finally accept the enormous damage that its selfishness is causing, and allow separating couples to move to a fairer, less acrimonious system which would cause less damage to hundreds of thousands of parents and children up and down the land

 

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Note for editors: Families Need Fathers (FNF) is a registered charity providing information and support on shared parenting issues arising from family breakdown, and support to divorced and separated parents, irrespective of gender or marital status. Our primary concern is the maintenance of the child’s relationship with both parents. Founded in 1974, FNF helps thousands of parents every year.

 

 

Please see Families Need Fathers Manifesto

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