Family Law

Rachel is a Lecturer in Law at the University of Exeter where she teaches Family Law and Land Law. She is also the Director for International Student Affairs for the Law School.

Prior to her appointment at Exeter, Rachel taught at the University of Warwick where she completed her doctorate in 2018. Rachel's thesis explored the origins of child protection laws in England and the basis for initial public law intervention within the family. Rachel continues to publish in this area exploring issues such as the history of criminal child neglect, the inception of foster care and the disproportionate penalisation of poor parents throughout the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries.

Rachel is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and holds a first class LLB from the University of Warwick. She is also a Queen Mother Scholar for the Honourable Society of Middle Temple Inn and a Diversity Access Scholar for the Law Society of England and Wale

Jo-Anna became a solicitor in 2014 and joined JMW in July of that year. Prior to qualification, she gained invaluable experience in disputes involving children and obtaining orders to protect individuals from domestic abuse. She has recently assisted with complex financial settlements and court proceedings relating to financial matters and arrangements for children, taking a particular interest in private law matters in which the local authority has become involved.

Jo-Anna prides herself on her realistic, practical approach. When giving advice, she seeks to address the needs of the ‘whole person’ rather than simply considering her clients’ legal issues in isolation.