The fate of the Family Law Bill -- some say the fate of the government itself -- is in the hands of a lawyer: the MP, former minister and barrister at Inner Temple, Edward Leigh.During the past weekend, Mr Leigh has been deciding whether or not to force a division in standing committee over the introduction of reconciliation services which, backed by Labour, would inflict a serious defeat on the government.In the event, Mr Leigh was able to force the government's hand on this occasion.

On Tuesday the government undertook to incorporate marriage guidance counselling onto the face of the Bill.

But there will be further difficult decisions ahead for Mr Leigh and other Conservatives on the standing committee.This comes on the heels of a series of free votes last week which revealed that up to 131 Conservative backbenchers, 30 minister, four secretaries of state, the entire Home Office team, five whips and three senior party officers were opposed to one or both central pillars of the Bill: the introduction of the no-fault divorce and the length of the period for reflection and consideration.Though no fault remains in the Bill, an amendment -- moved by Mr Leigh -- to extend the one-year period to 18 months was successful by 200 votes to 196.Speaking after the debate, three senior Tories, Michael Jopling, John Patten and Dame Jill Knight, publicly called on the government to withdraw the Bill altogether.

This debacle has been a spectacular own goal for the Conservatives, enabling Labour to steal the mantle of family values from the traditional 'party of the family'.There is no certainty even now that this mauled Bill will ever become and Act.

It may still fail for a number of reasons, not least widespread dissatisfaction on the Conservative benches.

If Mr Leigh and Labour join forces and introduce marriage guidance to the Bill, the Treasury will undoubtedly object on cost grou nds.It is one thing to introduce a Bill designed to cut down on legal aid by the back door.

It is another to end up with a Bill which needs to pay for marriage guidance services as well as mediators and solicitors.

The extension of the one-year period is already destined to cause increased legal costs.The parliamentary manoeuvring on the Bill means that practitioners can relax for a while.

There is no need just yet to rush out and become an accredited mediator, though this may be desirable in the long term.

The Law Society continues to be concerned with the Bill's presumption in favour of mediation and with the availability of legal aid.

It is also concerned that the introduction of marriage guidance measures will be funded from the legal aid budget.The Bill, if it survives, could receive royal assent in mid-to-late summer, but the subsequent pilot projects are expected to take two years to complete and a further period to evaluate.

Implementation would not be until 1998 at the earliest.In the meantime, family law practitioners can be confident that their voice is being heard through the Society in Parliament.

They can also be sure that, after this mess, the LCD is unlikely to be allowed by the Cabinet to present another Bill for some time, even on reforming legal aid.