Top North East Children’s Specialist Lawyer, Lucinda Connell comments in the North East Times
Lucinda Connell is an experienced Family Law Solicitor who has recently joined the team at Major Family Law. We thought we’d catch up with Lucinda and find out a bit more about the person behind the cases:
So, what drove you to become a Family Solicitor, Lucinda?
I liked the fact that there’s a lot of contact with clients and each case is different & unique. We all experience some family issues at some point in our lives and I wanted to be able to genuinely help people going through a difficult time.
What has been your most challenging case?
I was involved in a complicated financial case where the parties were lottery winners. The divorce was acrimonious and a testament to the saying that money doesn’t buy happiness. At the other end of the scale, I was involved in a deeply disturbing case involving 4 young abused children.
Do you agree with the Government’s axing of Legal Aid for family cases?
Absolutely not! It is unfair and morally wrong in a civilised society that only people with sufficient funds can access legal advice and representation. My fear is that many cases involving children will no longer be satisfactorily resolved and this will have a significant impact on those children in the long term, not only because they risk losing contact with one of their parents, but on an emotional and relationship level in later life.
Do you believe in marriage?
Yes, I do. I think it takes a lot of hard work and compromise at times, but it is an important institution and helps to promote stability for families. That said, I don’t believe anyone should be expected to stay in an unhappy relationship.
What single piece of advice would you give to someone going through a separation?
It may sound clichéd and self-serving, but I would say seek good legal advice at an early stage. Not knowing your rights and the fear of the unknown simply fuels anxieties at what is already a difficult emotional time. Seeking advice and information does not commit you to taking any specific course of action, but it does give you the tools to choose and to make informed decisions.
If you could change one law or pass a new one, what would it be?
That’s a really difficult question. Law changes tend to be political and often controversial. I’m glad I’m not responsible for those sorts of decisions; my job is to try to achieve the best possible outcome for people in their specific circumstances within the existing framework of laws, and that is testing enough!
What do you like most about the job you do?
It’s always stimulating: each case has its own peculiarities and the job never gets stale, particularly in light of ever evolving legal decisions and laws. It is immensely satisfying to see relieved and content clients at the conclusion of a case.
What are the most memorable moments of your career?
Although I work in an emotionally charged environment, there are still moments that make me chuckle, such as the elderly man whom my client was divorcing who said, “I brought a home and a business into the marriage – all she brought was a Bush record player and the promise of self improvement which never materialised”
What or who else makes you laugh then?
Animals and children – especially my own! And my husband, although he tends to make me laugh unintentionally!
And what do you like to do in your spare time?
I have two young children. What is free time? If I do get a bit of peace and quiet, I like to savour it and read a book. I’m quite obsessed with books.
And finally, shoes or handbags?
You’re making me choose? Both, surely!
If you would like to talk to Lucinda about your relationship concerns, you can contact her on: T: 01661 82 45 82 – E: Lucinda@majorfamilylaw.co.uk
Lucinda Connell is a Senior Solicitor and Collaborative Child lawyer Specialist of Major Family Law, Ponteland, NE20 9SU. W:www.majorfamilylaw.co.uk