No such thing as a simple divorce

Last week’s InGroup meeting was another productive Friday morning. Our 10-minute talk came from Andy Hill of Temple Heelis Solicitors, who gave us an honest and often funny look at life as a family lawyer.

Andy always wanted to help people. His dad was more taken with the idea that law was “a licence to print money”, which Andy says hasn’t quite worked out. He started his career in Whitby doing criminal, family and personal injury work. Over the years he moved more and more into family law. His experience is unusually broad and takes in trusts and family property disputes as well.

He told us that family law makes you an adviser, counsellor and support worker as well as a legal representative.

Andy also took on a common myth: that a couple with no children and no mortgage will automatically split the house 50/50. It depends on each person’s housing needs, their earnings, how much they could borrow and what other assets they have, including pensions. Sometimes a fair outcome doesn’t mean selling up straight away.

He explained how mediation works. Most people now have to attend a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM) before they can go to court. Andy also works with couples together through the Resolution Together approach. This helps them reach a fair settlement without running up big legal bills.

On AI, his advice was clear. It’s a useful tool, but don’t rely on it. It can invent legal cases, and judges spot it.

Thanks, Andy, for a really insightful talk.

InGroup meets every Friday, 8–9am, in Kendal. Local businesses interested in joining are welcome to get in touch.