The Need To Re-evaluate Language Used On Divorce And Separation
When the brilliant Helen Adam contacted The Divorce Surgery in the Spring asking us to get involved with a project about language, we were delighted to help. Not only because The Divorce Surgery are such fan’s of Helen’s and all the work she has done with the Family Solutions Group, but also because we really agreed with the need to re-evaluate our use of language on divorce and separation.
Language does matter. We all know that you can impart the same information in two completely different ways depending on the tone and words you choose. As professionals working in the delicate space of family change, we must never underestimate how pivotal our language can be in influencing the way a separation plays out. So it was fascinating to get a group of barristers together and discuss how we could propose change, not only pre-proceedings but also in proceedings themselves, maintaining of course the right to a fair trial, but remembering that a family in litigation remains a family when all the lawyers walk away.
Thank you Helen for inviting us to get involved, 4PB and Rachel Mary Cooper for your brilliant input. And thanks too to Gillian Bishop, Emma Nash, Lauren Evans and Nicole Phillips who drafted the report along with Helen. If you get the chance please do read the paper which has contributions from many professionals across the spectrum of family justice, and is a thought provoking read.
Read the full report here.
Author Name: Editor
Published content by The Divorce Surgery Editorial Team.
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