by Cerys Sayer
I recently concluded a final child arrangements order and financial remedy order for the same lay client.
The client was a particularly vulnerable, severely disabled, single mother. She had been physically and emotionally abused, as had her child, by the ex-partner/father. I also met the mother’s hugely supportive family as they featured in all elements of her life and legal resolution.
The consent order at the Financial Dispute Resolution (FDR) appointment was reached first. The indication given and subsequent negotiation being particularly successful, as it not only enabled the mother and child to rehouse in shared ownership housing, which catered for her specific needs, but also served to protect her from future financial claims threatened by her ex-husband’s family.
The final hearing in respect of child arrangements recognised that both mother and child had been the victim of domestic abuse so everything possible needed to be done to ensure all future contact would be safe. Now that the mother and child were in their own home, it was decided that defined contact could occur in the community, supervised by family members, as my client wished.
What took me by surprise at conclusion of all matters was how overwhelmingly grateful the client was for having had the same representation throughout the case.
She spoke very honestly about the night before coming to court. More specifically she explained that because she knew she would see me – someone who understood her personal situation and everything she’d been through – she felt much less anxious, knowing she would not have to meet someone new and explain everything all over again to a new person. This familiarity had helped make what was always going to be a hugely difficult experience more manageable for her.
On discussing this point with Ms Dray of WMC Legal LLP who had instructed me, it was reassuring to hear she shares the same view:
“I feel it is always better for the client to have continuity through children and finances, as it means Counsel has a better understanding and the client is less stressed and anxious about having new Counsel and repeating the same things and it can save a lot of time in pre-hearing discussions.”