On 15 April 1996, I qualified as a solicitor.
Thirty years later, it feels like an appropriate moment to pause and reflect on a journey that has been both challenging and immensely rewarding. During that time the legal profession has changed dramatically, and family law in particular has evolved in ways that few of us could have imagined in the mid-1990s.
Today I practise exclusively in family law, advising clients on divorce, financial remedies and relationship breakdown. Over the past three decades I have worked with families across Leeds, Yorkshire and beyond, helping people navigate some of the most important—and often most difficult—transitions in their lives.
The early years
My legal career began at Harrison Richmond before I completed my articles at Blacks Solicitors in Park Square, Leeds.
Those early years were formative. The profession had a very different feel then. Files were physical, research meant hours with textbooks and law reports, and much of the working day involved dictating onto cassette tapes for secretaries to type up later.
By the age of 25 I was running my first branch office. It was a steep learning curve and taught me quickly that being a good lawyer is not only about legal knowledge, but also about judgment, communication and understanding people.
A career shaped by great colleagues
Over the years I’ve had the privilege of working alongside outstanding colleagues at firms including Ison Harrison, Fox Hayes, Lupton Fawcett and later Stowe Family Law.
Eventually I took the step that many lawyers contemplate but fewer take—establishing my own firms. I have now had the privilege of founding two award-winning practices, most recently James Thornton Family Law.
Building a firm brings its own challenges, but it also allows you to shape the culture and values of the practice in a way that reflects how you believe family law should be practised: with clarity, professionalism and empathy.
How family law has changed
Family law today is very different from when I began practising.
One of the most significant turning points in modern financial remedy law was the House of Lords decision in White v White, which fundamentally reshaped how courts approach fairness on divorce. The move away from the “reasonable requirements” approach towards the principle of equality marked a profound shift in financial remedy jurisprudence.
The later decisions in Miller v Miller and McFarlane v McFarlane further clarified the principles that underpin financial remedies—needs, sharing and compensation—which continue to guide the courts today.
Another major development has been the growing recognition of prenuptial agreements following the Supreme Court decision in Radmacher v Granatino, which confirmed that courts should generally give effect to a freely entered prenuptial agreement unless it would be unfair to do so.
More recently we have seen the introduction of no-fault divorce through the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020, bringing a more constructive legal framework to the process of ending a marriage.
Alongside these developments, the courts have increasingly emphasised the importance of mediation and other forms of non-court dispute resolution. That broader judicial trend can be seen across the legal system, including decisions such as Churchill v Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council (2023), which confirmed the courts’ ability to encourage parties to pursue alternative dispute resolution before proceeding with litigation.
Taken together, these changes reflect a broader evolution in family law—from a more adversarial framework towards one that increasingly encourages fairness, proportionality and constructive resolution.
The transformation of legal practice
If the law itself has evolved, the way we practise law has arguably changed even more.
When I began my career:
- dictation tapes and typewriters were standard
- “cc” meant actual carbon paper
- mistakes were corrected with Tippex
- files were stored in large off-site warehouses
Research often meant hours spent with textbooks and bound law reports.
Today we work with cloud-based case management systems, instant communication and legal research that can be carried out in seconds. Documents are stored digitally rather than in warehouses of paper files.
And now we are witnessing another profound shift as artificial intelligence and large language models begin to influence how lawyers work and how legal services are delivered.
What has not changed
Despite all these developments, one thing remains constant.
Family law is ultimately about people.
Clients come to family lawyers at some of the most difficult moments in their lives. They are not simply looking for legal analysis—they are looking for clarity, reassurance and sound judgment.
Technology will continue to transform the tools we use, but empathy, experience and human understanding will always remain at the heart of good family law practice.
Gratitude for the journey
Reaching thirty years in the profession is not something anyone does alone.
I have been fortunate to work with exceptional colleagues and mentors who have taught me a great deal along the way. I have also benefited enormously from the support of family and friends whose encouragement has been invaluable throughout my career.
There are far too many people to name individually, but if you have been part of that journey in any way, you have my sincere thanks.
Looking to the future
Thirty years on, I still feel privileged to practise as a family lawyer.
The profession continues to evolve, the law continues to develop and technology will undoubtedly reshape how we work in the years ahead.
But the fundamental purpose of family law—helping people navigate some of life’s most important and difficult transitions with clarity, dignity and fairness—remains unchanged.
And that makes me optimistic about the future of the profession.
