A Worcester attorney recently quit his work at his law firm to pursue wok as a mediator. Paul Kemp had worked as a lawyer in family law since the 1970s. He recently left the Worcester Family Law Practice and now plans to run a specialist family firm for mediation services.

Kemp was one of the first British attorneys to train as a family mediator. He began offering mediation services at the firm in addition to litigation work, but now believes it would be better to invest all his efforts into professional family mediation. Kemp points out that other attorneys in the area offer family mediation services, but his decision to make the complete transition to working as a full-time mediator is rare. He considers it a privilege to have practiced as a mediator for so many years and now feels fully capable of working exclusively in alternative dispute resolution.

When couples visit Kemp’s new mediation practice, they are offered an alternative to court. It allows them to make their own decisions about the future of their family, instead of relying on a judge or magistrate. For many, having this control and working through these issues create a better working relationship for the future – something that is very valuable when divorced couples are raising children together. The process is also less expensive for settling a divorce and results in fewer hard feelings long-term.

Worcester Family Law Practice will continue without Kemp under the leadership of Marisa Hackett and Susan Humes, both family law attorneys and both members of the Law Society’s Family Law Panel.