Abigail is a senior associate in the family and divorce team, with over 26 years’ post-qualification experience. She is a member of Resolution, with specialist accreditations in private law children and financial remedy matters and is experienced in all aspects of divorce, financial remedy and private law children’s cases. This experience enables her to guide clients through the difficulties of family breakdown, protecting their interests through the law in a sensitive and pragmatic way.
What was your career path to your current role?
I trained at small firm in Sutton Coldfield, qualifying in 1999. I had excellent training in family, crime, litigation and wills. I relocated to the north west in 2001. I spent almost all the next 20-plus years working for a north west regional firm, undertaking a mix of private family work. I moved to a national niche family firm for the next three years before starting my current role.
Did you have any other career ambitions?
Not really. I think law and justice have always been something of a vocational calling.
What keeps you motivated in your work?
Primarily helping my clients. Family breakdown is difficult. Each case is different. It’s satisfying if I can achieve positive results that enable my client and their families to move on with their lives and be established for the future. And, in the day-to-day, I work with a great team of lawyers.
What has been the best development in family law in the last 20 years?
No-fault divorce has been sought after by family lawyers. It has been a game-changer for many clients and has made the process of divorcing much easier.
And the worst?
Most definitely the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act (LASPO) 2012. The impact on access to justice was somewhat anticipated by family lawyers before the legislation came into force. The reality has been significantly more far-reaching.
The family court system is on its knees and unable to properly administer justice as it faces an overwhelming number of applications and litigants in person. Those unrepresented are often denied proper access to justice because they are unable to afford the benefit of legal advice, guidance and representation. The proper administration of a due process is often denied, and this is due to lack of proper legal advice and representation. Victims of domestic abuse would be better protected by the other party also receiving legal advice and being properly represented throughout the court process.
If you could bring in one new piece of legislation for the sector, what would it be and why?
I would update The Civil Legal Aid Remuneration Regulations and give legal aid lawyers their long overdue pay rise. When I started as a trainee many years ago, legal aid was roughly half that of private charging rates. Now on average it’s about a sixth of the private hourly rate that solicitors charge. Unsurprisingly, the number of legal aid lawyers reduces each year and access to justice for the most vulnerable in society is denied.
What piece of legislation would you take off the statute books and why?
LASPO, for the reasons stated above.
What’s the best piece of advice anyone ever gave you regarding your career?
Remember the important things like your family.
What’s the best piece of advice you’d like to give to someone just starting out?
Don’t panic. Think and then think again! There is always a way around a problem.
Tell us something people may be surprised to know about you…
I love the Gipsy Kings’ music.
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