Family Law

What is your position and what you do on a day-to-day basis?

Family Partner at Charles Russell Speechlys LLP dealing with the usual range of finding the work, supervising the work and doing the work.

How long have you been in this role and what brought you here?

25 years at this firm and the opportunity to specialise in family law.

What are the people you work for/with like? Any memorable stories? 

A nice bunch. Many memorable stories but none to share in this open forum I'm afraid!

What is the best and worst part of the day for you? 

Best is the start of the day when all things are possible (or you think they are) and worst when you realise that was over-optimistic.

What adjectives best describe you?

For others to say.

What keeps you motivated?

Doing the best job you can whatever you do.

Tea or coffee?

After that morning latte, tea otherwise.

What would you say to anyone thinking of a career in your field?

The skills you will develop will always be required but you will need to be flexible as, to quote Mr Dylan, 'The Times They Are A' Changing'.

What song do you listen to the most?

Whatever comes up on random play on my iTunes. 

How do you enjoy your time outside of work?

Watching or pondering on the fortunes of a certain football club although whether that is enjoyable depends upon how they are doing!

If you could change one thing about the family justice system what would it be and why?

Proper state funding to restore access to justice.

---

Grant Howell, together with Martin Loxley, will speak about Resolving Finance Cases at this year’s Family Law Conference.

Grant is co-author of the bi-annual update on financial cases published in Family Law.

As part of this feature we are asking a wide range of people who have links to the court system and family law to respond to the above questions and give us some information about what their role entails. We hope to get a wide cross section of people - to this end, if you would like to contribute please email editor@familylaw.co.uk.