Legal advert exposes opportunistic system

RECENT reports about an advertisement by a firm of solicitors, which tried to entice people who had an “unhappy family Christmas” to contact them for confidential advice, should prompt people to reflect on the impact of family law on families and society in general (Irish Examiner, January 8).

According to reports, complainants have used the term ‘tasteless’ to describe the advert and the managing partner of the firm in question said she realises the advert ‘caused offence’.

However, to describe the advertisement as merely ‘tasteless’ or ‘offensive’ ignores the real issue. The problem is not the wording of the advert but what it exposes. In fact, it gives us a glimpse of the truth behind the misleading facade which suggests that family law is beneficial to families and society, and that the legal profession plays an honourable role in assisting families to resolve their problems in a fair, just and constructive manner.

The truth is that the adversarial legal system facilitates the legal profession in exploiting family tensions and exacerbates feelings of anger, hostility and revenge to a degree that it destructive for all family members, especially children.

The only real winners in this destructive industry called family law are the legal practitioners.

Law Society director Ken Murphy has said the advert will be placed before the next meeting of the society’s complaints and client relations committee.

The advertisement, in fact, does a service to the community by exposing the manner in which opportunistic solicitors exploit vulnerable people at stressful times.

Mary T Cleary

Amen

St Anne’s Resource Centre

Railway St

Navan

Co Meath