Lucy is a senior associate solicitor in the Family team. Lucy is also an accredited family Mediator and is renowned for her expertise in both financial matters and child law. She has obtained the Law Society Advanced Accreditation in complex financial settlement and children cases. Lucy is also a Member of Resolution and committed to the constructive resolution of family disputes. She specialises in assisting clients from a variety of backgrounds based throughout the UK and abroad.
What was your career path to your current role?
I obtained my First Class Law Degree, which encouraged me to study at York for the Legal Practise Course. I obtained a distinction on the Legal Practice Course, which secured my training contract. I went down the traditional qualification route and self-funded my legal studies. I completed various seats in different areas, such as commercial, employment and property. I decided at an early stage that Family Law was going to be my specialism. I have since practised as a family solicitor for over 16 years. I retrained as a family mediator and absolutely love this area of work. I act for both parties in a family dispute and help them to agree a way forward as amicably as possible, ideally not going to court.
Did you have any other career ambitions?
I have always loved music and considered a career as a professional musician- at one point auditioning for X Factor! My love of playing the piano enabled me to pay my own way through law school. Playing the piano for weddings and functions at weekends was always a welcome break from studying.
What keeps you motivated in your work?
I really do enjoy helping people. Family Law is a difficult/emotive area. Clients are often very anxious and at an incredibly difficult time in their lives, needing support from specialist professionals. I find it very rewarding helping clients through this difficult period, and help them to move forward with their lives, after finding a resolution following their separation, ideally through mediation.
What has been the best development in family law in the last 20 years?
The progression of NCDR, including encouragement by the courts for parties to attend mediation, has been a welcome change. Family mediation has evolved over the years and become more commercial and helpful to clients. Accredited mediators can work with complex models, such as hybrid mediation, which can be very helpful in high conflict separations. The courts encouragement of mediation has been a great development in family law. Specialist mediators can obtain support from solicitors, accountants and financial advisors, to help parties agree a way forward.
And the worst?
I have always struggled with the lack of cost orders made by the court in some specific family cases. Especially where one party is being particularly difficult and increasing the other sides costs and not adhering to directions/timescales ordered by the court.
If you could bring in one new piece of legislation for the sector, what would it be and why?
Hopefully the Cohabitation Reform Consultation will result in legislation to address the vulnerable legal position of over 3.5 million unmarried cohabiting families, by proposing financial protection upon separation.
What piece of legislation would you take off the statute books and why?
The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012, slashed Legal Aid for many private family law disputes. This resulted in a surge in litigants in person and unbalanced courtrooms, where victims of domestic abuse have regularly found themselves forced to cross-examine, or sit across a table from unrepresented alleged abusers. Thankfully NCDR (and mediation) provide alternative options for such cases, such as shuttle mediation, which can deal with high conflict cases in a more amicable and suitable setting.
What’s the best piece of advice anyone ever gave you regarding your career?
Do what you love as a job, and it will never feel like you are going to work on a morning. I genuinely do love my mediation work and feel privileged that clients trust me to help them through the process, which can seem overwhelming and challenging to them.
What’s the best piece of advice you’d like to give to someone just starting out?
There is no bad work experience. Get as much experience as possible. Even if you work in an area that you don’t want to specialise in long term, that will help you appreciate the area that you would like to specialise in.
Tell us something people may be surprised to know about you…
I used to spend time with Prince William when he was training as a pilot in the RAF and regularly had dinner sitting next to him, talking to him about very normal things!
Another one is that I once played the piano for Peter Andre whilst he was wearing a silver tracksuit singing Angels!
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