Is Meedi8 a solicitor or a mediator?

Neither. Meedi8 is a private, structured-conversation tool. It is not a solicitor, it is not a Family Mediation Council accredited mediator, and nothing it produces is legal advice. It helps you get clear on what you want before you use a solicitor or attend a MIAM.

Is mediation cheaper than using solicitors?

Usually, yes. Mediation tends to cost less and resolve faster than handling everything through solicitors, and some cases qualify for legal aid. Costs vary by mediator and region. Using Meedi8 to prepare first can help you make the most of the paid sessions you do book.

A MIAM is a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting. In England and Wales, most people are expected to attend one with an accredited family mediator before they can apply to family court. Meedi8 can help you prepare for it, but does not conduct the MIAM itself.

Can mediation work if we disagree a lot?

Often, yes, because that is what the process is for. A mediator stays neutral and helps you both work toward an arrangement. Mediation may not be suitable where there has been abuse or a serious power imbalance; an accredited mediator will assess that at the MIAM.

Online mediation vs a solicitor: which do you need?

When a relationship or family matter has to be sorted out, the two usual routes are a solicitor or mediation. Here is how they differ, and how to walk into either one clearer.

Meedi8 - Guided Mediation

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The short answer

A solicitor gives you legal advice and represents your interests. That is essential when you need to know your rights, when matters are contested, or where there has been abuse. Mediation is a structured, neutral process where you and the other person work out an arrangement together, usually faster and cheaper than going through solicitors, and it keeps the decisions in your hands. Many people use both: a solicitor for legal advice and a mediator to reach agreement. Meedi8 is neither. It is a private tool that helps you get clear on what you want and what matters most before you sit down with either of them.

Solicitor vs mediation: comparison

These are not mutually exclusive, and plenty of people use both. But they do different jobs.

General comparison of using a solicitor and using mediation for UK family and relationship matters. Not legal advice.
	Solicitor	Mediation
Main role	Advises on your legal rights and represents you	A neutral process to reach a shared agreement
Who decides	You, advised by your solicitor; a court if contested	You and the other person, together
Typical cost	Often £150 to £300+ per hour in the UK	Usually lower; some cases qualify for legal aid
Speed	Can be slow, especially if contested	Usually faster; you set the pace
Best when	You need legal rights clarified, or it is contested	You both want to agree and keep control of the outcome
Where Meedi8 fits	Use Meedi8 to organise your thoughts before advice	Use Meedi8 to prepare for your MIAM and mediation sessions

When you need a solicitor

See a solicitor when you need to understand your legal position, for example your rights around finances, property, or children, or when the matter is contested and you may need representation. If there has been domestic abuse, or you feel pressured or unsafe, a solicitor (not mediation) is the right route, and your safety comes first.

You can find a family solicitor through Resolution or the Law Society directory. Meedi8 is not a solicitor and nothing it produces is legal advice.

When mediation is the better route

Mediation works when both people want to reach an arrangement and keep the decisions in their own hands rather than handing them to a court. It is usually quicker and less expensive than resolving everything through solicitors, and in England and Wales most people are expected to attend a MIAM (Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting) with an accredited mediator before applying to family court.

Mediation is run by a Family Mediation Council accredited mediator. Meedi8 is not an accredited mediator and does not conduct MIAMs.

How Meedi8 helps before either one

Whichever route you take, the conversation goes better when you have already worked out what you actually want, where you are willing to compromise, and what matters most. That is what Meedi8 is for: a private, guided conversation that helps you get your own position clear before you spend money on a solicitor or sit down for a MIAM.

It is free to start, needs no account, and nothing you say is legal advice. It is preparation, so you walk in clearer and make better use of the professional you do see.

Get your thoughts in order before a first solicitor meeting
Prepare for your MIAM and mediation sessions
Work out what you want and where you can compromise
Decide which route fits your situation

Get clear before you choose

Free to start, no account needed. Work out what you want before a solicitor meeting or your MIAM.

Common questions

It depends. A solicitor advises you on your legal rights and represents you, which is important when matters are contested, when you need to know where you stand legally, or where there has been abuse. A mediator helps you and the other person reach an agreement together, usually faster and cheaper. Many people use both. If there has been domestic abuse or you feel unsafe, a solicitor is the right route and mediation may not be appropriate.

If anything you described feels unsafe, the UK National Domestic Abuse Helpline is 0808 2000 247. Free, confidential, 24/7. In an emergency call 999.

Meedi8 is a private, structured-conversation tool. The information on this page is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for therapy, legal advice, or professional safeguarding support.