What is your position and what do you do on a day-to-day basis?
As in-house Barrister at niche Family Law firm
Jones Myers, I deal with all aspects of family law. This ranges from matrimonial finance cases involving complex trust structures to child relocation cases.
How long have you been in this role and what brought you here?
I’ve been a Barrister for almost three decades. I initially set out to be a Doctor and studied science A-levels, but mathematics was not my forte. I immediately swapped to arts A-level subjects and had to consider another career. Law seemed an obvious choice and my mother said it would suit me because I was both dramatic and argumentative! After studying at the
University of Buckingham and the
Inns of Court School of Law, the rest, as they say, is history!
Any memorable stories from your career so far?
Yes, which include arguing about ownership of a family dog to who should have the cooker. Needless to say, the court gave the parties short shrift in both cases!
What is the best and worst part of the day for you?
Walking to work on the beach when I was based in Jersey was an uplifting start to the day. My worst bugbear is the daily commute on packed, stuffy trains.
What keeps you motivated?
Developing a strategy with a client and implementing it to achieve a good outcome for them, along with the cut and thrust of advocacy in the courtroom.
Tea or coffee?
Double espresso. I kick start the day with caffeine and am still consuming it late into the night.
What would you say to anyone thinking of a career in your field?
Don’t feel under pressure to take a law degree first as there are so many fascinating subjects that will also equip you with the skills to become a lawyer. Law is truly a vocation which requires pouring your heart and soul into it, along with being empathetic and an attentive listener. Being there for your clients is also a prerequisite. I once stopped halfway down a ski slope in Canada to take a client’s call because I knew how important it was to them.
What song do you listen to the most?
Who inspires you within the world of family law?
This is a difficult question to answer as there are quite a few. My initial decision to become a Barrister was inspired by the late
Richard du Cann QC. At University a lecturer recommended that I read his book:
The Art of the Advocate. Having read it my mind was made up. My subsequent decision to go into family law was down to the kind and sage advice of a Barrister in the nascent stages of my career who now sits as a Designated Family Judge.
How do you enjoy your time outside of work?
I enjoy watching my daughter play netball on Saturdays in a local club and in her school team. I also find going out for meals with family or friends - without a mobile phone - to be one of the most enjoyable ways to switch off.
What book would you recommend to others?
What would be your alternate career?
Despite being one of the most dangerous professions in the world, I’d be a tree surgeon. There’s something magical about trees and forests and working in the great outdoors.
If you could change one thing about the family justice system what would it be and why?
I’d overturn the decision to scrap
Legal Aid for a wide range of family matters. Its damaging effect was to abandon thousands of parents and children, often the most vulnerable, in a legal wilderness. Deprived of the means to pay for specialist legal advice, it has resulted in a substantial and sustained increase in litigants in person which are straining our already overstretched family court system.
18 APR 2024
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