DIARY OF A DIVORCE LAWYER

 

DIARY OF A DIVORCE LAWYER

Monday

The first hour this morning I’ve spent fielding client calls and emails. Weekends can often be frustrating and frankly horrid for clients and they will sometimes call to offload with stories of partners not behaving themselves, not returning the children on time or children being ill. My job is to reassure clients and smooth things over to help them focus on the bigger picture…life won’t always be like this.

10 am – I have a client appointment – we need to complete some detailed financial information in furtherance of her case which is due to go to a full contested final financial hearing in a couple of months. Take detailed instructions from the client and collate evidence in the form of bank statements and other docs. Give reassurance about the court process and chat through what is likely to happen on the day.

A home visit – a lady has been unwell for a number of years and doesn’t drive so it’s easier for me to visit her. Today we are discussing her Form E which is a detailed financial document that will enable us to progress her case to the endpoint of achieving financial separation from her husband. We discuss what type of house she sees herself living in and how much capital she needs to purchase this. We also take a realistic look at her monthly income needs going forward. This involves filling out a budget sheet and taking a review of her food shopping bill, hairdressers and wardrobe needs.

Back to the office and catch up on phonecalls and emails. I am meeting a new gentleman client at 6pm for an initial chat about his circumstances over coffee – this will be a complementary assessment of his needs.  I reassure him that I appreciate it’s incredibly difficult to open up to a lawyer about the intimacies of one’s personal life but that I’m here to listen and offer options.

Tuesday

Very early start 6.00am! I’m networking this morning with local business people – always good to be involved in the local community. Hard getting up but never regret it when I’m there.

Back to the office for a meeting with an independent financial adviser – he wants to showcase some software that can produce financial forecasts for people going through divorce. It reviews assets and income projections with various settlement proposals.

I’ve finally got a slot to focus on some detailed drafting work before meeting with a long term accounting acquaintance in Hale village at 12.30pm – over the years we’ve referred work to each other.

Back to the office for a ‘coffee and chat’ with a new lady client. She comes recommended by a previous client. We look at how she and her family can move forward after a tumultuous time at home.

Tonight I’m participating in the Trafford Law Society committee meeting before heading for home and gathering my thoughts for the next day.

Wednesday

I’ve got a clear morning to prep for a court hearing due to take place tomorrow.

Working lunch today in Altrincham with a fellow divorce lawyer – yes, divorce lawyers can be friends!

In the afternoon I have a lengthy appointment with a client. We are aiming for settlement to avoid a lengthy court process. We need to satisfy that the husband’s proposal is going to be sufficient to meet her income and housing needs in the future. We discuss figures and outcomes at length.

Thursday

Today I am at Warrington County Court for a final hearing concerning contact and how often a three year old boy should see his father.  I am doing my own advocacy – it is a long and fraught day but in the end, through some negotiation, we arrive at a routine that both the mother and father are happy with.

Catch up emails and phonecalls and then head for home – exhausted after battle in court.

Friday

It’s quieter on the phones today so catch up with much needed paperwork and drafting. I write some family law content for the website and twitter – make sure there’s plenty of good info for potential clients to absorb over the weekend. I take a call from a journalist who wants a quote for a Sun article about how children are affected by divorce and how parents can avoid often inevitable and destructive behaviour.

Start to think about the coming week. Sunday I’ll be prepping for a lecture I’m giving at the Liverpool Law Academy – I really enjoy this aspect of my job –  but not before having a good rest on Saturday!

 

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