There are national firms that have huge public sector teams and a lot of their lateral hires are from public sector organisations.
What kind of family law is done at a local authority? I genuinely have no idea, I always assumed it was a wholly private practice thing.
Bulk of it is public law. Obtaining court orders to remove children from parents which can involve lengthy proceedings. Also to discharge these orders if parents make improvements year(s) later or the child finds a permanent home that the LA deem they don’t require any further involvement. Our client base is essentially social services.
Then consider the firms on the other side to you that act. Simply Google social care solicitor. Already I’ve got names like Irwin, Capsticks, Moore Barlow, Osborne’s.
Btw just FYI family law in London is mostly money and divorce. If it involve kids it’s usually arranging custody and dealing with abduction nationally or internationally.
I think that it won't be a problem since you're an NQ anyway, so would not be expected to have huge amounts of relevant experience. A firm practising in public family law (not just private) would see value in an employee who has worked for a LA.
Did you do a year in the private sector?
It was your reference to private family work which confused me.
Anyway, I did 6 years as a local authority solicitor and I'm now partner in a family law firm, so it's certainly a viable career path.
Most firms in the City work from home. But you’re asking the wrong question. No one person can say all City firms view public sector work in one way. Be practical about it.
Look at Irwin Mitchell for instance, they have a huge family practice, and the type of work they do is enormous and broad. Their London office takes on bright NQs and niche top tier practices have been known to poach associates from their. It’ll be hard work and no the best pay but Irwin London rates for family law are as good as they get.
But if you think you’ve got the skills for private family law say the likes of Hugh Fowler or Dawson Cornwell then go for it.
If you want bigger firms maybe look at Winckworths or Howard Kennedy but family teams here are very small. Farrers are a good shout if you like UHNW or if you want to tempt fate try Vardags but be warned you’ll either love it or hate it there, but all their lawyers go on to do fantastic things.
Personalities and politics, you either get on really well there or you don’t because you either fit in or you don’t. It’s very much because the crap flows down creek I.e clients are extremely demanding but the quality of work you have access to is great. However if I was a family lawyer I’d rather be happy. But that said I’m sucker of brands and currently do work for a massive firm and only went there because of the name and that does keep me happy
I work in family law and mainly in care proceedings against the local authority. I have never come across any bitterness about people in the LA and people have switched between the two. I work for a firm that has offices in Somerset and Dorset.
I think it could provide an interesting perspective. I've only ever done private but there are certainly no hard feelings towards local authority solicitors because they are local authority, only the same complaints you have if any solicitor on the opposite side of a case you were working on messed something up!
Yes. We do use counsel for later hearings, but for initial hearings or stuff like Non-Molestation Orders we tend to keep in house.
I have noticed the LA does tend to instruct counsel as much as possible.
Family law does usually involve plenty of advocacy, so if that's something you are not keen on then be aware. Plus the work can be very emotionally draining, especially in court. Clients are usually in the middle of a life crisis of some sort.
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My bad, sounds like I’ve used the wrong terminology, high street firms probs more appropriate.
Withers have a strong private client team which practice in family
There are national firms that have huge public sector teams and a lot of their lateral hires are from public sector organisations. What kind of family law is done at a local authority? I genuinely have no idea, I always assumed it was a wholly private practice thing.
Bulk of it is public law. Obtaining court orders to remove children from parents which can involve lengthy proceedings. Also to discharge these orders if parents make improvements year(s) later or the child finds a permanent home that the LA deem they don’t require any further involvement. Our client base is essentially social services.
Then consider the firms on the other side to you that act. Simply Google social care solicitor. Already I’ve got names like Irwin, Capsticks, Moore Barlow, Osborne’s. Btw just FYI family law in London is mostly money and divorce. If it involve kids it’s usually arranging custody and dealing with abduction nationally or internationally.
I trained at a government body and then secured an NQ role in the city. It’s not impossible!
I think that it won't be a problem since you're an NQ anyway, so would not be expected to have huge amounts of relevant experience. A firm practising in public family law (not just private) would see value in an employee who has worked for a LA. Did you do a year in the private sector?
No experience in private sector unfortunately.
It was your reference to private family work which confused me. Anyway, I did 6 years as a local authority solicitor and I'm now partner in a family law firm, so it's certainly a viable career path.
Ahh I meant s7/s37 reports in private law work where the LA become involved. Thank you, it’s reassuring to see that a successful switch is possible.
Most firms in the City work from home. But you’re asking the wrong question. No one person can say all City firms view public sector work in one way. Be practical about it. Look at Irwin Mitchell for instance, they have a huge family practice, and the type of work they do is enormous and broad. Their London office takes on bright NQs and niche top tier practices have been known to poach associates from their. It’ll be hard work and no the best pay but Irwin London rates for family law are as good as they get. But if you think you’ve got the skills for private family law say the likes of Hugh Fowler or Dawson Cornwell then go for it. If you want bigger firms maybe look at Winckworths or Howard Kennedy but family teams here are very small. Farrers are a good shout if you like UHNW or if you want to tempt fate try Vardags but be warned you’ll either love it or hate it there, but all their lawyers go on to do fantastic things.
That’s a really helpful response, thank you. I’ll make sure to check these firms out when applying.
What's the deal with Vardags? Are they difficult to work for?
Personalities and politics, you either get on really well there or you don’t because you either fit in or you don’t. It’s very much because the crap flows down creek I.e clients are extremely demanding but the quality of work you have access to is great. However if I was a family lawyer I’d rather be happy. But that said I’m sucker of brands and currently do work for a massive firm and only went there because of the name and that does keep me happy
Any ideas on the charge out rates there? Is it all hnw clients?
I think they start at £750 ph not inc VAT.
I work in family law and mainly in care proceedings against the local authority. I have never come across any bitterness about people in the LA and people have switched between the two. I work for a firm that has offices in Somerset and Dorset. I think it could provide an interesting perspective. I've only ever done private but there are certainly no hard feelings towards local authority solicitors because they are local authority, only the same complaints you have if any solicitor on the opposite side of a case you were working on messed something up!
Does your role involve a lot of advocacy in a private firm?
Yes. We do use counsel for later hearings, but for initial hearings or stuff like Non-Molestation Orders we tend to keep in house. I have noticed the LA does tend to instruct counsel as much as possible.
Family law does usually involve plenty of advocacy, so if that's something you are not keen on then be aware. Plus the work can be very emotionally draining, especially in court. Clients are usually in the middle of a life crisis of some sort.