There are some merits and demerits of each option and ours mediator will talk you through all your options. There are some merits of the face-to-face discussions as well and these are that the decisions can be taken very quickly and effectively keeping in mind all the factors of separation.
Hiring a solicitor also has its advantages. It is not recommended getting the services of the court in most situations as there are a lot of formalities and this will waste your time and effort. There is also the disadvantage of unknown decisions taken by the court without your consent which is not the case with the mediation process.
In the end, it is recommended to hire a mediator on the first place who will help you to choose the best option according to your situation and you will have no problems in fulfilling any formalities of any other option you have.