Q&A with Gina Samuels-Richards

You are a past president of the Leicestershire Law Society, what were the main changes you wanted to implement – or main objectives – and were you successful?

I was President from October 2022 – October 2023. I am now coming to the end of the year as Immediate Past President, where I have supported the current President as a member of the executive board. I set myself a number of challenges as President, including increasing membership; reaching out to the county to increase their involvement with the society; creating a hub to encourage the relationship between practices in the area and the young people of Leicester, educating them that the legal profession in its many forms is achievable for them; and maintaining the society’s reputation as being one of the most vibrant and active in the country. It was a pleasure to see an increase in membership and applicants to the main committee.

On behalf of LLS, I hosted some 15 events. These were educational, such as an FDR Seminar; events to raise funds for charity; or topical, such as International Women’s Day. All were successful and well attended.

However, I was keen to have events and programmes which encouraged young people into the profession and supported them in their training. So we delivered awareness seminars to that end as well as work experience. But the event I feel was the most inspirational was a visit from Lady Hale – a stalwart of diversity and inclusion, who has dedicated her career to the development of the legal system in the hope that it is fit for modern purposes. It was wonderful to see school children, university students and lawyers mesmerised and encouraged by her.

You were the first president of LLS of African heritage. How important was that for you and how important do you think it is for those interested in a career in law to see representation and diversity in the profession?

Being the first person of African heritage to hold this role comes with a significant responsibility, as it often feels like you’re representing your entire cultural community. Unfortunately, individuals of African heritage are frequently seen not just as professionals in their roles, but as representatives of their entire community.

I believed it was essential to use the platform to highlight the contributions of Black communities to the development of law in the UK and their sense of civic duty upon emigrating here. One of my proudest moments was the LLS Awards in May 2023, where I chose a Moroccan theme. I encouraged attendees to either wear the traditional black tie or their own cultural attire. I felt it was important for everyone to express themselves as both the lawyers they are and individuals with rich cultural backgrounds. I was deeply touched to receive an email from the University of Leicester, stating that the students who attended felt they could now be their authentic selves, even in a professional setting.

Part of your role was encouraging new members to the profession, what advice would you give to members at the start of their career in family justice?

Starting out in your career can be both exciting and challenging. However, bearing a few nuggets in mind, will help with the journey:

• Be open to learning and feedback: This could be formal continued training or feedback from colleagues, and new experiences. Constructive criticism is invaluable. It helps you understand your strengths and areas for improvement. Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback and use it to grow. Continuous learning will help you grow and adapt.
• Build a strong network: You will want in your network colleagues who are new to the profession, as well as those who have been in family law for some time. Reaching out to colleagues new to the profession gives you a sounding board and validates your experiences. You will also more than likely be up against them throughout your career, so you want to develop those relationships which actually help you to resolve disputes in your cases as opposed to being antagonistic. Seeking out more experienced colleagues will help you to develop in your craft, navigate difficulties, and they may be available for mentorship, advice and opportunities.
• Set clear goals but stay adaptable and maintain a positive attitude: Define what you want to achieve in your career. Setting short-term and long-term goals can give you direction and motivation. But the workplace is constantly evolving, so be flexible and open to change.
• Develop soft skills: Communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills are crucial in any career. Focus on developing these alongside your technical skills.
• Take care of yourself: The President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane, is often issuing guidance to us as family lawyers to take care of ourselves and to rest. It is recognised the work we do is challenging to our emotions and our mental health. So it is vitally important we take time for self-care to avoid burnout and maintain our overall wellbeing.
• Be patient: Success doesn’t happen overnight. Be patient with yourself and your progress. Celebrate small victories along the way.
• Stay true to your values, and ensure you follow the SRA Code of Conduct: It is always a shame to read about junior solicitors being reprimanded for actions borne out of being too scared to speak to their supervisors. Integrity and authenticity are key to long-term success. Stay true to your values and principles and seek support, even when faced with challenges.

You worked with the local Resolution region during your time as President, do you have any examples of the joined-up work you were able to do together?

As a family solicitor and a member of Resolution, there were times when I would attend a launch of a new initiative at the court in the morning, have a lunchtime meeting with the Family sub-board of the LLS and then attend an evening event organised by Resolution. I would see similar faces at all three events, and it was at that time I wanted to find a way to encourage the LLS Family sub-board to work closer with the local Resolution committee. During my tenure as President, I had the opportunity to bring this idea into fruition by organising an FDR seminar with local Resolution representative Bina Modi. From there, we have fostered links between the LLS Family sub-board and local Resolution, working collaboratively towards further events to meet our members’ needs.

Are there specific issues or challenges that members in Leicestershire are dealing with?

I believe we are facing the issues many family lawyers do throughout the country in that the courts are overwhelmed with applications and there is a shortage of court staff and judges sitting. However, in Leicester, we have adopted the accelerated Financial Remedy Protocol where appropriate, and we have signed up to the Midlands Strategy in Private Children Law cases. The strategy provides helpful YouTube videos for the parties, providing insight to the legal process and pre-proceeding information, which can hopefully be disseminated by solicitors, and those working in health, education, and social services. We are hopeful this will ease the pressure on the courts, give realistic expectations to the parties in proceedings, and maybe also keep NCDR at the forefront of their minds.

Resolution’s Vision for Family Justice sets out the changes we want to see in order to make the family justice system more reflective of our Code and our values. What’s the one government policy you’d like to see changed or introduced?

It is difficult to choose one change, given the impact of LASPO. However, the biggest issue in family law is the lack of modernity. It has not kept pace with the changing structure of modern family life. With more and more people choosing not to enter into a legally recognised union, or entering into cultural unions which are not recognised by English law, they do not have the protections as to the share of income, assets or other capital on separation, risking them being left financially destitute. It is important the law evolves in a way to protect these individuals who were clearly in a committed relationship but for whatever reason chose not the legalise their union.

Gina@agrlaw.co.uk