Today's Family Lawyer Podcast host David Opie welcomes Kate Daly, co-founder of amicable to discuss the evolution of the business since it launched in 2015; to a point where it now is one of the largest providers of family law services in the UK by virtue of the number of consent orders it submits annually.

Founded by Kate, a psychologist by profession, and Pip Wilson, and driven by a desire to find a better way to separate following Kate's own separation, the goal initially was to create an app to help couples prepare for divorce by organising their finances and child arrangements before seeking legal help. However it soon became apparent people wanted more.

Kate speaks candidly about the impact of the High Court case which ultimately validated amicable's service offering and centred on the delivery of legal services as an unregulated entity.

Kate also discusses the role technology plays in the business and how it underpins the human element of the business; tackles hourly billing and increasingly accounting for changing consumer attitudes including payment credit options; and the delivery of high quality legal services, regardless of regulation.

In 2023 Octopus Group acquired a majority stake in amicable enabling it to further expand its service offering and provide financial and legal support, and a holistic approach to divorce and separation.

"We are trying to change the narrative around divorce and separation" concludes Kate, acknowledging there is no one size fits all and amicable is not always the best route for couples. "We are just one of the many ways, but the more the public has an understanding of the different ways (including mediation and arbitration) the better."

The Today's Family Lawyer podcast is available on your preferred podcast provider and at www.todaysfamilylawyer.co.uk.

Subscribe to Today's Family Lawyer to receive our FREE weekly newsletter, out every Thursday and listen in to the podcast to hear all the latest news and views from across the family law sector. Thank you to our Podcast Sponsor; VacantC Legal Recruitment.

The Co-Parent Way is a co-parenting methodology developed by Marcie Shaoul; with a history working in the diplomatic service in 2016 Marcie launched her consultancy aimed at helping co-parents better communicate with one another and place their children at the centre of the relationship.

She describes how she saw the same patterns emerging in separating couples after her work with government and civil society. Of her work Marcie says "you can have the same north star, the same place you're heading to; but you're doing it in very different ways" referencing the importance of language, culture, and listening.

Her book, The Co-Parenting Method, launched in 2025, details her six step process which not only helps those going through separation, but professionals working with couples in conflict to help them navigate the unexpected next steps of their lives.

In the course of the discussion Marcie explores her six steps which broadly cover

1) moving from a short term mindset and understanding you are co-parenting for the rest of your life

2) the ability to manage strong emotions; not ignore them, adds Marcie, but find ways to put them to one side to enable better communications

3) recognise changing boundaries and redefine new boundaries between you and your co-parent and children

4) establish ways to communicate without conflict, recognising it takes two to be in conflict so by using the right tools and not escalating situations, potential flashpoints remain calmer

5) making good parenting decisions; including how often do you meet, where do you meet, how you behave etc

6) moving from surviving to thriving; taking control of the things you can and understanding you can make a conscious choice around things you can't control.

The book comes three years after the landmark "No-Fault Divorce" legislation and at a time when the language of family law is under scrutiny, which, says Marcie, has changed, and will continue to change, the divorce landscape.

The Today's Family Lawyer podcast is available on your preferred podcast provider and at www.todaysfamilylawyer.co.uk.

Subscribe to Today's Family Lawyer to receive our FREE weekly newsletter, out every Thursday and listen in to the podcast to hear all the latest news and views from across the family law sector. Thank you to our Podcast Sponsors; LexTox and VacantC Legal Recruitment.

In the latest episode of the Today's Family Lawyer podcast, host David Opie sits down with James Nutt, Laboratory Operations Manager at Cansford Laboratories, to explore a fresh perspective on the use of hair strand testing in the family courts.

This episode delves into the complexities behind what many might see as a straightforward scientific process. James offers an alternative view on how hair samples are prepared, how substances such as drugs or alcohol are extracted and tested, and what the results actually mean when they're presented in a legal setting.

A key focus of the discussion is the interpretation of results—particularly the often-misunderstood concept of cut-off levels, which determine whether a substance is reported as present or not. James explains the industry standards around these thresholds, their role in ensuring consistency across laboratories, and the importance of recognising both their strengths and limitations.

The conversation also touches on the variability of hair types and colours, external environmental factors such as UV exposure, and even how conditions like pregnancy can impact hair growth and potentially influence results. With such variability, James urges caution against over-reliance on hair strand test results in isolation.

Listeners will also gain insights into how hair analysis can help build a historical pattern of substance use, the challenges of testing for emerging drugs, and the importance of ongoing education and awareness for both practitioners and the courts.

The Today's Family Lawyer podcast is available on your preferred podcast provider and at www.todaysfamilylawyer.co.uk.

Subscribe to Today's Family Lawyer to receive our FREE weekly newsletter, out every Thursday and listen in to the podcast to hear all the latest news and views from across the family law sector. Thank you to our Podcast Sponsors; LexTox and VacantC Legal Recruitment.

Podcast host David Opie is joined by Rukhsana Koser and Sarah Palmer, Solicitor’s at Enable Law, to discuss Special Educational Needs (SEN) and family law and shed light on the increasing challenges families face and how legal expertise can make a significant impact.

With personal experience growing up alongside siblings with learning difficulties, Rukhsana brings over a decade of experience in education law. She highlighted how families often struggle to secure the support their children are entitled to, particularly when local authorities shift responsibility onto parents.

Sarah, a seasoned solicitor with over 30 years of experience in family and children’s law, discussed how SEN issues frequently intersect with family law disputes. She has seen cases where disputes over schooling and educational needs become central to custody arrangements. Despite the complexities, legal intervention can help ensure children receive the right provision, whether through specialist schooling or proper assessments.

The Enable Law team plays a crucial role in guiding families through these challenges, from securing Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs) to advocating for children with undiagnosed needs. Their work is often described as life-changing, empowering parents to navigate the system effectively and secure a future where their children can thrive.

The Today's Family Lawyer podcast is available on your preferred podcast provider and at www.todaysfamilylawyer.co.uk.

Subscribe to Today's Family Lawyer to receive our FREE weekly newsletter, out every Thursday and listen in to the podcast to hear all the latest news and views from across the family law sector. Thank you to our Podcast Sponsors; LexTox and VacantC Legal Recruitment.

Podcast host David Opie in joined by CEO of the charity LawCare, Elizabeth Rimmer, to discuss their latest "Life in the Law" surveys which are now open for completion until Friday 21st March.

LawCare supports and promotes mental health and wellbeing across the legal services sector. They have 2 main focuses. Their first is in providing direct support on and offline for those who wish to reach out. Their second focus is on providing wider education and advocacy of mental health planning and promotion across the law. Importantly, says Elizabeth, LawCare help organisations understand how they can better support their people through identifying risk factors in the work place that undermine people's mental health

The survey last ran in 2020 with the results published in 2021 and found 69% of respondents said that had experienced poor mental health. Addressing some of the reasons why the survey found 1 in 5 respondents had experienced bullying and workplace harassment; and less than half of respondents with line management responsibilities had any formal training.

In 2025 there are 2 surveys to complete; one for individuals and one for organisations. More information about how to complete the surveys is on the LawCare website (Life in the Law) and below.

The surveys are asking questions about wellbeing, hours people work, psychological safety, burnout, management and support, and bullying and harassment.

For organisations, the survey is looking into whats steps are organisations taking to address the factors of poor mental health. Good mental health is a strategic investment, says Elizabeth. Staff who have positive mental health are going to be more effective, more productive, more likely to stay in the organisations.

The objective of the surveys is to help produce evidence based best practice for firms to practically implement into their organisations. This needs to be done properly, strategically, and you need to give people capacity to deliver it concludes Elizabeth.

Complete the surveys via the links below:

• Life in the Law 2025 (Individuals)
• Life in the Law 2025 (Organisations)

The Today's Family Lawyer podcast is available on your preferred podcast provider and at www.todaysfamilylawyer.co.uk.

Subscribe to Today's Family Lawyer to receive our FREE weekly newsletter, out every Thursday and listen in to the podcast to hear all the latest news and views from across the family law sector. Thank you to our Podcast Sponsors; LexTox and VacantC Legal Recruitment.

The Today's Family Lawyer Podcast welcomes back Dan Warburton, a law firm consultant and trainer who specialises in helping individuals delegate work more effectively; in the process junior staff are elevated, the individual has a happier work/life balance, and ultimately the firm can be more profitable.

It's a soapbox Dan has jumped on before having appeared previously on the podcast to discuss “the skill of profitable delegation;” creating leaders who can deliver high levels of performance across their team. Few partners achieve what Dan describes as a “transition out of being a technician in the business to being a business owner"; it should be their objective to remove themselves from a position where the structure and success of the organisation relies on them.

This discussion centres on the launch of Dan's book "Delegate Now to Supercharge Your Profits" in which he outlines the secrets to his methodology;

• including the key differences between "delegation" and "profitable delegation" - "It’s easy to delegate work away ineffectively... It’s a very different skill to delegate work away and have it handled to a high standard whilst gaining a great reputation and making a firm reliably profitable.")
• Proactive and reactive management - "I’ve come to see that there really is no other way than leading regular one-on-one calls to lead and manage team members effectively."
• Leading teams in a way that makes them loyal to you

Throughout the podcast Dan discusses tips and tactics for how to work with individuals in the business to help them become more efficient, effective and confident members of the team which in turn enables leaders to lead, rather than remaining forever in the The Law Technician’s Valley of Doom - It’s where partners are all burned out from working long hours and cannot see how to increase their firms’ profits without working even longer hours.

They cannot stop working, and they cannot take breaks to recharge their batteries very often. They take holidays infrequently because their firms rely on them so much to keep operating.

The Today's Family Lawyer podcast is available on your preferred podcast provider and at www.todaysfamilylawyer.co.uk.

Subscribe to Today's Family Lawyer to receive our FREE weekly newsletter, out every Thursday and listen in to the podcast to hear all the latest news and views from across the family law sector. Thank you to our Podcast Sponsors; LexTox and VacantC Legal Recruitment.

In the latest Today’s Family Lawyer Podcast host David Opie discusses the role of intermediaries in the justice system with Lucy Osmond, Lead Practitioner at Communicourt.

With over a decade of experience in facilitated communication, Osmond sheds light on the essential work Communicourt does in supporting HMCTS and ensuring that all court users can effectively engage with proceedings.

Communicourt provides impartial communication specialists who bridge the gap between court users and legal professionals. Their role is to ensure that individuals, particularly those identified as vulnerable - whether due to age, specific conditions, cognitive or neurodivergent needs, anxiety, or depression - can fully participate in their hearings. Importantly, a formal diagnosis is not required for an intermediary to be appointed; referrals can be made by solicitors when communication barriers are identified.

In family courts, intermediaries assist in standalone conferences, helping individuals understand proceedings, the roles of those involved, and the various stages of a case. Their support is highly tailored to each person’s needs, ensuring that they comprehend the questions they are asked and can respond effectively. As Osmond highlighted, there is no one-size-fits-all approach; intermediaries adapt their strategies dynamically throughout proceedings to provide bespoke, effective support.

A significant concern Osmond raised is the decline in referrals for intermediaries, despite their proven ability to improve access to justice. Many applications for intermediary support are made late in proceedings, often after key decisions have already been made. Early involvement, she emphasised, allows for more effective development and better outcomes for court users.

Despite some criticism, intermediaries play a nuanced role beyond simply providing breaks during hearings. Their work often goes unseen, such as monitoring attention levels or supporting individuals with literacy and processing difficulties. They are not legal professionals but highly trained communication specialists who undergo a rigorous training program, ensuring they can quickly build rapport and tailor their approach to each unique case.

This rapport point is important. Could artificial intelligence play a similar role? While valuable, says Osmond, it cannot replace the work of professionals. And to reduce the work of intermediaries to something that can be delivered by AI is to risk dismissing it as a “tick-box exercise. Indeed, Osmond concludes, research suggests their presence can save court time and costs by making proceedings more efficient.

The Today's Family Lawyer podcast is available on your preferred podcast provider and at www.todaysfamilylawyer.co.uk.

Subscribe to Today's Family Lawyer to receive our FREE weekly newsletter, out every Thursday and listen in to the podcast to hear all the latest news and views from across the family law sector. Thank you to our Podcast Sponsors; LexTox and VacantC Legal Recruitment.

Launching the latest series of the Today's Family Lawyer Podcast, host David Opie is joined by Head of the Family Department at Chester-based Oliver & Co Solicitors Alex Reagan to discuss the firm's proactive approach to marketing to help build the firm's profile.

Having launched a social media series called Family Fact Friday the firm has been using its presence, alongside other marketing channels, to promote their work and generate new business.

The videos, says Alex, are aimed at de-mystifying family law and helping people feel more comfortable with legal services if they ever need to engage a lawyer. They also introduce potential clients to members of the team and share a little bit about the person behind the video; providing much needed reassurance.

There is, reminds Alex, a balance between providing enough information to help people make an informed decision; and too much information which can overwhelm, or leave the firm in a difficult position when it comes to billing their time. They tackle this as best they can with a free 10 minute consultation (which can often take more than 10 minutes!) and a commitment in the team to set aside time daily to speak with prospective clients and enquiries.

And the firm has engaged extensively with external partners to support their awareness campaigns with relationships established with a local radio station, hospice, the GP surgery; and even creating educational books for children to help them understand what the family might be going through.

The glue that binds much of their activity together is their website which Alex says is informative different. As an employee-owned firm there is a real connection between employees and the business, which is reflected in the many positive comments on the website.

A fascinating take on the here and now, and future of law firm marketing, Alex shares her insight and experience throughout the discussion.

The link to the report into firm's use of social media mentioned in the recording is here:

The Today's Family Lawyer podcast is available on your preferred podcast provider and at www.todaysfamilylawyer.co.uk.

Subscribe to Today's Family Lawyer to receive our FREE weekly newsletter, out every Thursday and listen in to the podcast to hear all the latest news and views from across the family law sector. Thank you to our Podcast Sponsors; LexTox and VacantC Legal Recruitment.