LAW
Each day we ’ re having to deal with difficult situations and clients going through difficult times in their lives – but when you do get the outcome you want , that ’ s rewarding and keeps you doing the job .”
Swings and roundabouts – Jenn Williamson says family legalities can be complex . when you do get the outcome you want , that ’ s rewarding and keeps you doing the job .”
There ’ s rarely a day Jenn isn ’ t in court . “ This morning I ’ ve dealt with two hearings and yesterday I did the same ,” she says , adding : “ On average , family lawyers are probably juggling between 50 to 100 cases at any one time . Some are basic and straightforward , with weeks where little is happening , but others are more complex .”
And she admits it can sometimes be a case of managing expectations . She said : “ We often have an inclination which route the court is going to go down or the potential likely outcome of a case – and that helps you give your client realistic views about what ’ s going to happen .
“ Sometimes the result is not necessarily what the client wants , but it ’ s probably what we expected – so with our experience , the job can often be about managing expectations .
“ If you lead clients down a garden path , you ’ re setting them up to fail and perhaps set themselves back in terms of their own mental health , so we are always empathetic but realistic too .”
And fuelling the approach of Punch Robson ’ s family team is that balance between a professional approach and “ being human ”.
Jenn said : “ We are one of the only firms in Ingleby Barwick that offers legal aid for family work . I ’ m a passionate legal aid lawyer . Due to the restrictions in accessing legal aid , that can often mean you are dealing with very vulnerable people .
“ It is 100 per cent about trying to remain professional but in some respects it ’ s just about being an actual human being , speaking to them like a normal person and empathising with them .
“ While we can ’ t possibly be there for the emotional side of everything , to some extent we have to be a bit of an emotional crutch support . Going through whatever they ’ ve been through to be needing solicitors or court proceedings , that process in itself is stressful – we try to make it as easy as possible for them .”
And despite her years of experience , Jenn says she ’ ll never lose sight of the emotions involved .
She said : “ I ’ ve done this for 15 years now and I still go home on the odd occasion and will get upset about something or worry about a client . Perhaps I ’ ve worried I haven ’ t done a good enough job for my client although , in reality , it was always going to be a certain outcome because of what the law says .
“ But if you aren ’ t human , you won ’ t be as effective a lawyer . If you didn ’ t come away from a case questioning whether there was anything more you could do , whatever the outcome , I don ’ t think you should be a family lawyer – you need that passion and emotional involvement to strive to do the best for your clients .”
For more about Punch Robson and its services , visit punchrobson . co . uk
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