When Sandra Hawkins and her husband decided to separate they wanted the divorce process to go through as quickly as possible.

Now, after their solicitors successfully completed their divorce within two months, Sandra Hawkins, 45, is backing a Law Society campaign to promote the work they do.

Sandra, of Broadstairs, Kent had heard about the collaborative divorce process, and after discussing it with her husband, they agreed it was the right option for them.

A collaborative divorce is where a couple are able to work out an agreement without going to court.

Just days after their initial meeting with Jonathan da Costa, partner at Boys and Maughan, in Margate, Kent, and another collaborative divorce solicitor, the couple’s divorce order was before the court.

Two months later they received their decree absolut from the court formally separating the couple.

Sandra said the whole process was handled smoothly and professionally and meant she and her former husband were able to part on amicable terms.

“We wanted a clean break. We had both been married and divorced before and we didn’t want a long drawn out divorce process,” said Sandra. “We were very keen to use the Boys and Maughan collaborative divorce option.

“The reason we wanted to use a solicitor in the first place was because of the professionalism a solicitor brings. We wanted reassurance things would be done properly, and from someone who knew what they were doing, so the divorce would go through quickly and efficiently.

“Jonathan was extremely knowledgeable and offered exactly what we were looking for.

“He gave us peace of mind, and the speed of the collaborative process was a big incentive. Solicitors have the professional knowledge, so people should go and use it.”

Jonathan said that at his first meeting with Sandra they investigated all the potential options, including collaborative divorce.

“Sandra felt quite strongly that this was the way she wanted to progress the divorce,” he said.

He said the Law Society was such a well-established, well-known organisation, that being a member provided potential clients with the confidence they were dealing with a firm that could be trusted to provide professional advice.

“It provides opportunities and assistance to members for training and information on changes to the law, and a great deal of assistance to its members,” said Jonathan.

“Whether you are buying your first home, need help with resolving family problems, or working to get your new business up and running, by using a solicitor you can be assured of a trustworthy and knowledgeable service.”

The Law Society’s Use a Professional campaign launched on 1 September 2014, and will encourage members of the public to speak to a solicitor to resolve any disputes they have, while also raising the profile of the work solicitors do, and promoting the Find a Solicitor website.

The Find a Solicitor website allows people to search a database of nearly 140,000 legal professionals across England and Wales. The service is available here.

To find out more about the Law Society and how a solicitor can help you, visit: www.useaprofessional.co.uk