My legal career started around 14 years ago when I was a trainee in a legal firm that dealt almost entirely with both civil and criminal legal aid cases. Since then I have worked in both small and larger firms but focused on dealing in the area of family law. In Morton Fraser I deal exclusively in family law with my particular speciality being international parental child abduction. Morton Fraser has given me the confidence and resources to push ahead with building an international child law practice that all members of the family law team and wider firm can benefit from. 

Family law teams were traditionally mainly female orientated but with the head of the team being male. While family law continues to be female orientated, the heads of family law teams are now a mixture of male and female solicitors. I have been very fortunate in my legal career to deal with inspirational and flexible heads of teams whatever their gender. I am aware that not all legal firms are as forward thinking as Morton Fraser when it comes to agile working and investing in people so they can achieve their ambitions. Equality barriers still exist in the legal profession, in my view but firms who recognise and adapt to solicitors who now favour agile working and work/life balance over a top salary will succeed in retaining the best talent.