The Press is full of headline-grabbing stories about high-profile celebrity divorces and the lawyers behind them. But there’s much more to becoming a family lawyer than chasing a financial settlement.

At the top end of the scale are the Abramovichs and the McCartneys and their multi-million pounds divorce settlements.

At the other end are the thousands of ordinary British couples who suffer the pain of divorce outside the glare of the headlines.

And while many people are able to settle their separation amicably and without too much grief, many are unable to.

The one common factor – if couples are wealthy or not - is almost always the divorce lawyer.

Divorce and associated family law is attracting increasing interest among those keen to enter the legal world, with high-profile cases serving only to boost the profession’s popularity.

Melanie Hamer, Partner at Wales’s largest family law firm, Wendy Hopkins Family Law Practice (wendyhopkins.co.uk), Windsor Place, Cardiff, believes the sector is one of the most intellectually challenging but also emotionally rewarding that the law has to offer.

“Unfortunately, lots of young people recognise this and it means that training contracts are now very hard to get, even for someone out of university with a good standard law degree,” says Melanie.

“Twenty years ago it was easy to get a training contract and you could more or less choose where you wanted to work. Now lots of law firms don't give training contracts but take lawyers on as paralegals.”

Wendy Hopkins Family Law Practice has a staggering 500 applicants for every training contract vacancy. “I tend to only interview those with good law degrees who state in their covering letter why they want to do family law specifically,” adds Melanie.

“I still like handwritten covering letters - you can tell a lot from someone's handwriting and it shows they've put some effort in and not just done a huge mail merge.”

And once someone is qualified as a solicitor there are certain skills they will need to be a successful family lawyer which they might not necessarily require to be involved in the criminal or commercial aspects of the law,” she adds.

“Aside from a lot of common sense, a good family lawyer must possess an ability to remain objective and not to become involved in the emotion of a case, which is often a trap that perhaps younger lawyers fall into,” says Melanie, who was one of the original two partners in the Wendy Hopkins Family Law Practice in 1996, having qualified as a Solicitor in 1989.

“They should have a sympathetic caring and understanding manner, an ability to remain calm and possess good organisational skills. They need to be an excellent communicator - both orally and in writing – and be flexible.

“You have to learn to expect the unexpected because divorce and family matters are often very emotionally charged and can quickly go off in different directions. Anything can happen in a day and it’s not unusual to have to scrap all your other plans to concentrate on one case,” adds Melanie, who has been a member of the Law Society’s Childrens’ Panel since 1996 and was one of the first two solicitors in Wales to gain entry to the Solicitors Family Law Association specialist panel.

“I also believe the best family lawyers are those that are creative and enjoy a willingness to try and resolve matters in an amicable and non adversarial way wherever possible.

“Often there are children caught up in the dispute and an aggressive lawyer will often only make things worse.

We spend most of our lives in work and it's important to do something you enjoy – family law certainly fits the bill.”

A team of women ‘lawyers in lycra’ are gearing up for the fortchoming Race for Life in Cardiff with three of their team having lost parents to cancer.

The 14 strong all-female team for the event at Bute Park’s Blackweir fields has been put together by lawyers and secretaries at Cardiff-based Wendy Hopkins Family Law Practice.

Team organiser and lawyer Anna Weaver said it was the second year in succession the women had got together to help raise money for Cancer Research UK.

Thea Hughes, Partner says "My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000 and, thankfully she has been in remission since then. We are all pleased to support this charity as, sadly, cancer touches the lives of so many people."

Melanie Hamer, Partner explains, “My mum died in 2002 aged 65 years after being diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2000. I did the race for life in the summer of 2001 when we thought she was in remission and gave my finisher's medal to her. We followed it up again with a great team effort last year.

“It was Anna's idea and she's organised us all. It's great that so many women take part .It's always touching to read the signs on people's backs and see how many people have been affected in their family by this disease,” added Melanie.

The Wendy Hopkins Family Law Practice team is made up of Melanie Hamer, and colleagues Anna Weaver, Thea Hughes, Kate Edwards, Amanda Waktins, Debra Pearce, Rachel Edwards, Claire Cooper, Aumeneh Boardman, Angela Jones, Liz Williams, Lorraine Watts, Danielle McCarthy and Nia Roberts.

It will be the 12th year in succession that Cardiff has hosted a Race for Life and since the event started in 1994.

Wendy Hopkins Family Law Practice, Cardiff, was founded with just three solicitors in 1996 as the first law firm in Wales devoted entirely to family law. It is now one of the UK’s largest firms devoted to family law matters.

The firm covers all aspects of family law including divorce and separation, children matters, finances and services for the elderly.

What's your earliest childhood memory?
When I was little we lived in an old house and I had a fireplace in my bedroom. I remember waking up one Christmas morning and saw Santa leaving up the chimney. I was so excited! Sadly I have since found out that it was just my dad’s old wellies that my parents had put there to fool me.

Who was your first crush?
It was probably Jon Bon Jovi (and still is!).

What's your most valued/treasured possession?
My 2 cats Delilah and Pip, they always come to meet me every day when I come home from work.

What was the last white lie you told?
Yes dear I’d love to see the new Transformers film…

How do I spend my spare time?
When I get the chance to relax my boyfriend and I try to escape to our allotment and enjoy the peace. I also enjoy reading travel books and find shopping for shoes very therapeutic especially when I’ve had a tough day at the office.

What is your favorite photograph?
I love photographs and pictures of family and friends and have them all over my desk. The one I have chosen here is of me abseiling off Newport Transporter Bridge because it reminds me that I can do anything I set my mind to.

Do you or did you ever have a nickname?
Not really it’s always been either Kate or Katie

What do you always put in your shopping basket?
Cinnamon and Raisin Bagels

When was the last time you cried?
I haven’t cried in a while but it was probably when I was reading or watching something cheesy.

What was your best holiday ever?
I’ve just come back from Cuba, which was amazing, but probably my best holiday was in California where I lived for a year as a student. To come back to Wales after all that sunshine wasn’t easy!

Domestic abuse will affect one in four women during their lifetime. Kate Edwards, an expert solicitor with Cardiff-based Wendy Hopkins Family Law Practice, will address this escalating social problem at the annual Welsh Women’s Aid conference being held in Wrexham tomorrow.

Domestic abuse will affect one in four Welsh women in their lifetimes and one in six men.

Two women die each week and thirty men each year as a result of domestic abuse in the UK.

By any stretch of the imagination, these are staggering statistics.

And domestic abuse is no respecter of race or age, social standing or sex, neither are there signs of the problem reducing.

Indeed with more and more families struggling with financial pressures, there is every indication that domestic abuse incidents are increasing year-on-year.

The fact that there are a growing number of domestic abuse units and women’s safety units is evidence of the depth of the problem.

These units provide a valuable service together with the work of Women’s Aid and various refuges.

Solicitors can play a valuable role in completing the circle to combat domestic violence; a message I and my colleague Nia Roberts from Wendy Hopkins Family Law Practice will be addressing at this weekend’s conference

I first began working with women who were experiencing domestic abuse and Women’s Aid groups while training to be a solicitor.

It made me realise that the problem was more widespread than I had ever previously thought and, as I have stated, that it affected all types of women.

As I became more aware of the problem the many forms of domestic abuse also became more obvious - it doesn’t just include the physical violence but also mental, emotional and financial.

After a relationship has ended the perpetrator may try to continue to exhort his influence by using the children of the relationship.

During my work as a solicitor, I often visit victims who are unable or unwilling to visit a solicitor’s office because of the repercussions if they are seen.

This is a major issue and one that the profession needs to address urgently, while lawyers I believe also have a duty to educate the public about this unseen problem.

The laws in this country are changing as awareness grows. The Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 reflects this and important changes have been made- but whether these changes go far enough remains to be seen

One of the most important is The Family Law Act 1996, which is an all-embracing act allowing a person to apply for a Non molestation Order and/or Occupation Order.

A non-molestation order can be made to prevent a person from using or threatening to use physical violence or to prevent a person from harassing, pestering or intimidating someone.

There must be evidence of molestation, the applicant (or child) must need protection; and the Judge must be satisfied that judicial intervention is required to control the abusive behaviour.

An Occupation Order is used where the future occupation of a property is in issue. One person could effectively be required to leave the home because of his/her violent behaviour towards the other or the effect that his/her presence is having on the children.

Occupation orders are quite onerous and usually only requested in conjunction with a Non-molestation Order and when there is no other option. An Occupation Order effectively ousts the violent partner from the family home and orders them not to return.

Another part of the law that needs to be understood is the Children Act 1989, which places the welfare of the child first. This puts the child’s best interests above the needs of the abused parent as it is the accepted view that it is in the child’s best interests to have a relationship with both parents.

If a child’s mother has been a victim of domestic abuse which has resulted in the end of the relationship with the child’s father, contact between the child and their father can be managed so that the parents do not meet. Contact can be facilitated by a mutual third party, or in some cases contact can take place at a contact centre.

If the parent with whom the child lives believes that it is not in the child’s best interests to see their other parent, they are entitled to stop contact.

The non-resident parent then must make an application to the Court where the matter will be investigated fully.

Clearly, this is only a brief summary of the law as it relates to domestic abuse.

My opinion is that the legal profession has a duty to utilise as much of its considerable expertise as possible to help reduce the problem of domestic violence in the UK.

After all, we have the qualifications to advise staff, volunteers and trustees about the civil remedies available to them and their children to help them break the cycle of violence and protect them in the future.

Finally, I will also speak at a ladies networking event organised by Anna Maria Sakellariou of the Senior Women and Networking (SWAN) Group. Representatives of Cardiff Women’s Aid, BAWSU (Black and African Women Stepping Out) and Cardiff Women’s Safety Unit will also be speaking at the event at The Copthorne Hotel, Cardiff, on September 20.

* Kate Edwards is a Solicitor at Wendy Hopkins Family Law Practice LLP, Cardiff, (029) 2034 2233 wwww@wendyhopkins.co.uk Kate is also a Trustee of Pontypridd Women’s Aid.

A team of Cardiff family lawyers will be ‘in the pink’ this week to lend their support to Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the charity Tenovus.

As well as dressing in pink for the day, lawyers and staff at Wendy Hopkins Family Law Practice in Windsor Place will be raising cash by selling pink food and drink and raffling a series of pink prizes.

The charity has added poignancy for the team because three solicitors among the 14 lawyers at the firm have lost parents to cancer, including partner, Melanie Hamer.

The lawyers at Wendy Hopkins Family Law Practice – 11 women and three men – have a history of supporting cancer charities, having this year again got together to help raise money for Cancer Research UK by competing in the Race for Life in Cardiff..

Thea Hughes, Partner says "My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000 and, thankfully she has been in remission since then. We are all pleased to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month as it touches the lives of so many people."

Melanie Hamer added,” We were inspired to have a “ Pink Day “ after listening to a spokesperson from Tenovus speak at a South Wales Business Ladies Lunch Club. It is great that our staff have rallied behind the idea for an ‘In the Pink’ day and we look forward to receiving great support from everyone that visits our office.”

Wendy Hopkins Family Law Practice, Cardiff, was founded with just three solicitors in 1996 as the first law firm in Wales devoted entirely to family law. It is now one of the UK’s largest firms devoted to family law matters.

The firm covers all aspects of family law including divorce and separation, children matters, finances and services for the elderly.

Wales’s largest firm of family lawyers – Wendy Hopkins Family Law Practice - has announced further expansion, increasing its team of lawyers to 14.

The South Wales-based firm is also one of the UK’s leading specialist family law firms and following recent growth has taken on three assistant solicitors and a new trainee solicitor at its offices in 13 Windsor Place, Cardiff.

The firm was founded with just three solicitors in 1996 as the first law firm in Wales devoted entirely to family law. It now has 11 female and three male lawyers, enabling it to give both a female and male perspective to its divorce clients.

The firm covers all aspects of family law including divorce and separation, children matters, finances and services for the elderly.

Its new assistant solicitors are Elizabeth Williams, from Cardiff, and Lorraine Watts, from Harrow, Middlesex, who both qualified last month.

Elizabeth, a former Ysgol Glantaf pupil, completed her Law LLB at Exeter University, while Lorraine graduated from the College of Law, Guildford with a distinction which is the course’s highest merit.

The practice has also recruited assistant solicitor Jane Baker, who qualified at John Collins & Partners, Swansea, and specialises in wills and probate, assisting department head Dianne Evans.

New trainee solicitor Adam Frewen, originally from Pencoed, near Bridgend, is a University of Wales, Aberystwyth, graduate.

Partner Melanie Hamer said the firm values securing the services of the best legal talent.

Wendy Hopkins Family Law Practice has moved to limited liability partnership (LLP) status – which it says will herald significant growth for 2008.

The Cardiff-based practice has grown by almost 500% since being founded with just 3 solicitors in 1996 as the first law firm in Wales devoted entirely to family law.

It now has 11 female and three male lawyers, providing a female and male perspective to its divorce clients – a figure which continues to grow.

Thea Hughes, Joint Managing Partner, said the change to LLP was a natural next step in the firm’s development which would deliver real business benefit.

“The change will maintain the firm’s ability to attract and retain the best staff, help ensure an efficient and responsive service for clients across South Wales and beyond and improve transparency,” she said.

“We, together with our staff and clients, recognise and support the need to run our business in a responsible, transparent manner. Likewise, a limited liability structure will help us to continue attracting and retaining the best people.”

An LLP is a hybrid between a traditional partnership - the legal structure formerly used by Wendy Hopkins Family Law Practice - and a limited company.

Unlike traditional partnerships, an LLP has the benefit of limiting the personal liability of members, while allowing the flexibility to retain existing internal structures.

The firm recently appointed three assistant solicitors Elizabeth Williams, from Cardiff, and Lorraine Watts, from Harrow, Middlesex, who both qualified in September this year after having trained with the firm and Jane Baker from Cardiff.

The firm also appointed a new trainee solicitor Adam Frewen, originally from Pencoed, near Bridgend, a University of Wales, Aberystwyth, graduate.

Partner Melanie Hamer said, “As the firm continues to enjoy strong growth, it is more important than ever for us to secure the services of the best young legal talent. “

A divorce surge is set to hit South Wales this month.

Cardiff-based Wendy Hopkins Family Law Practice claims January is the busiest month for handling divorce and separation cases.

On average, they say the number of clients seeking divorce in January increases by 51 percent on the previous month.

And today sometimes dubbed D-Day – the day when feuding couples are most likely to start divorce proceedings.

Melanie Hamer, managing partner of the firm, said: “The pressure cooker atmosphere in homes at Christmas will only worsen problems in a relationship. Couples will, however, for the sake of their children, normally see Christmas through before seeking a divorce. Our advice is not to rush into divorce. If you are going to divorce, the you need to try to keep it as amicable as possible”

Around 50,000 Welsh children may be being denied access to their grandparents because of the breakdown of family relationships, new figures reveal.

Family solicitors say many grandparents accept the loss as a fact of life, without realising they can take steps to try and establish contact.

For most children in Wales, spending time with granny or granddad is a basic and enriching part of growing up.

It is estimated that nearly two thirds of all childcare is now provided by grandparents, who are therefore estimated to save more than £250m every year in Wales.

The figures, from Age Concern and the Grandparents’ Association, illustrate the big disparity between Wales’ army of hands-on grandparents, and the many people barred from seeing their grandchildren.

The most common reasons for loss of contact is breakdown of the parent’s relationship.

Tensions between the parents and their own parents or parents-in-law can also prevent children meeting their grandparents.

Distance is another obstacle for some families, with many parents having found work hundreds of miles from childhood homes.

“The statistics are very worrying” said Kate Edwards, a solicitor with Cardiff-based Wendy Hopkins Family Law Practice. “And from our experience, the numbers appear to be on the increase.
“While grandparents who are denied access to their grandchildren must feel hurt and angry, the fact remains that legally grandparents are not automatically guaranteed any rights to their grandchildren
“But there are a number of positive things that grandparents can do to best assure that they will be allowed to develop relationships with their grandchildren.
“Parents mostly keep their children away from their own parents due to conflicts that exist between the adults. The breakdown of a marriage or long-term partnership can be upsetting for all concerned, but for grandparents it can be even more so if contact with grandchildren is denied.
“Loss of contact tends to happen when grandparents get stuck in the middle of a dispute between the parents, but occasionally it happens when, say, the daughter has had an argument with her parents.”

Ms Edwards recently conducted research with a group of retired people in Rhondda who had no access to their grandchildren – and had no idea what they could do about it.

Michael Phillips, of Age Concern Cymru, said “It’s a great shame that so many children in Wales are denied access to their grandparents. Many children see their grandparents as friends, or even confidantes.
“Grandparents can contribute financially, their expertise and their life experiences, all of which can help children develop in an increasingly difficult world.”

Distance prevented some children seeing their grandparents. And with many adults having children later in life, some grandparents could be too old to travel long distances easily.

“A lot of people are leaving the areas in which they grew up to find work, so families are spread further apart,” he said. “For older grandparents, the mobility issues can start to take effect.
“Younger grandparents, in their 60s could have less time to visit grandchildren because they’re looking after their parents, who are in their 90s”

Ros Williams. From Ogmore Valley, near Bridgend, said her close relationship with her granddaughter Alex, aged two, benefited all in the family.

“Life is very timetabled and structured for parents. Grandparents have that little bit of time to chill out,” said Mrs Williams, 58.

“I’m helping my family by looking after her now and again, but on the other hand I’m getting something out of this.
“All people want to be needed. Alex fits that role very well for me, after I got to the point where my four children didn’t need me.
“I’ve got younger people in my life. They keep me young.”

What grandparents can do

Cardiff lawyer Kate Edwards, of Wendy Hopkins Family Law Practice, has the following advice for grandparents seeking to establish contact with a grandchild.

• Write to whichever parent is withholding contact, usually the child’s mother.
• Tell the mother or father how much you miss seeing your grandchild, and that your grandchild will miss you.
• If the parents are separated, point out that the child has effectively lost one parent and a further loss is imposed on the child by denying them a relationship with grandparents.
• You can also point out that the parent is effectively denying the child a relationship with relatives representing half of their generic original and half of their identity.
• If the parent is unresponsive, see what mediation services are available locally. If mediation is possible, suggest this to the parent.
• The last resort is an application to the court, you can then apply for leave to apply for a contact order, followed by a substantive contact application.
• In any discussions, don’t complain about your loss of contact but emphasise the child’s welfare as the priority. This is the approach the court will take.

Family law firm Wendy Hopkins Family Law Practice has continued on the expansion trail with the appointment of Nia Roberts as a solicitor and Eimear Kane as a new trainee solicitor.

The South Wales-based firm, which is also one of the UK’s leading specialist family law firms, was founded with three solicitors in 1996 as the first law firm in Wales devoted entirely to family law.

The firm covers all aspects of family law including divorce and separation, children matters, finances and services for the elderly.

Nia Roberts graduated from Cardiff University in 2003 having read law and French. She also studied at the Université de Picardie Jules Verne in Amiens, France. Nia then undertook the legal practice course at Cardiff University, obtaining a distinction in family law.

She worked for two large law firms before joining Wendy Hopkins Family Law Practice as a trainee solicitor in 2006.

Ms Roberts has recently qualified, specialising in all areas of family law.

Trainee Eimear Kane has joined Wendy Hopkins Family Law Practice, having graduated from Queen’s University, Belfast, with a law and politics degree and a masters in human rights. Eimear then undertook the legal practice course at De Montfort University, Leicester, obtaining a distinction in family law.