Meet the committee member: Leora Taratula-Lyons
How long have you been involved with Resolution?
I have been involved in Resolution since I joined Burgess Mee in 2020. The firm encourages us to be actively engaged with Resolution and so I applied for a position on the Drafting Committee (now renamed the Orders and Agreements committee) in early 2023.
What committees do you sit on?
I am on the Orders and Agreements Committee and have been a member since 2023. I have recently been appointed co-chair with Laura White of Moore Barlow.
Why did you want to get involved with Resolution?
I wanted to contribute to the wider family law community beyond my firm and client base, and meet like-minded lawyers with the same goal of improving family law for all. I applied for the Drafting Committee position as I enjoy working on complex financial matters and the knotty drafting considerations that are often involved.
How have you benefitted from being a member of Resolution?
The Code of Practice and the importance of being committed to a conciliatory approach informs my day-to-day practice. Words are so important when it comes to communicating with your client and other solicitors, and this is a message Resolution does so well in pursuing, particularly with Good Divorce Week which has just taken place.
I enjoy the networking side of Resolution, especially the YRes events. These events and the Orders and Agreements Committee have helped me to connect with other practitioners of differing seniority and from various locations outside of London. It has been a great way to expand my professional network.
What’s the one Resolution resource/service/achievement that you want everyone to know about?
The footnotes to the financial remedies consent order that can be accessed via the Agreements and Orders online section of the Resolution website (in the Professional development dropdown menu). We are currently working on updating these footnotes, which have excellent guidance for practitioners.
There are so many other useful online resources on the Resolution website, like the Domestic Abuse screening questions and Good Practice Guides.
Is there a Resolution resource not currently available that you would love to see?
A guide to the key case law. As a junior practitioner, the sheer number of reported judgments can be overwhelming. An easily digestible guide to the key cases in each area of family law would be a useful resource.
What would you say to encourage more members to become volunteers with Resolution?
It is a great way to meet people outside of your firm and usual networking circles, and an opportunity to grow in confidence and progress your career. There are so many ways to get involved, many of which are away from your desk and computer, which is refreshing.
Why did you choose family practice?
I knew early on that I wanted to be a lawyer who helped people rather than companies. I have lived experience of family law matters so I knew from a young age that there are two sides to each story. I wanted to be able to bring that understanding to my career.
What are the most rewarding aspects of your job?
A happy client! We are often helping people at the most difficult time of their lives, and so it is always so good to know that you have made a positive difference to a client’s life as a result of your hard work.
As I have a particular interest in cases involving disclosure issues, I find trawling through pages of disclosure to prepare a Questionnaire or Schedule of Deficiencies oddly rewarding too.
What are the most challenging aspects of your job?
Maintaining a healthy work/life balance. It can be a stressful job at times, particularly when you are in proceedings in a litigious case with many court deadlines. I work well under pressure but sometimes forget that I need to rest too!
What do you think have been the biggest changes in family practice/the family justice system since you started out?
How paperless we now are. When I started working in family law as a paralegal in 2016, I was wedded (pun intended) to the printer and scanner. I would print hundreds of pages for bundles each day! As someone who is environmentally conscious, I am glad we have moved away from hard copies and the huge amount of paper that would often go to waste.
What’s the one government policy you would like to see changed or introduced?
A voucher scheme for one hour of free legal advice akin to the government’s mediation voucher scheme (which seems potentially more realistic than undoing the legal aid changes resulting from LASPO).
How do you keep a good work/life balance and look after your wellbeing?
I do my best to physically separate myself from my work at the weekends by leaving my laptop and work phone in my spare room. I find exercise great for stress relief and getting out of my head. I dance and go to intense HIIT classes regularly; they are a good distraction from work as you are totally focused on the present moment rather than your to-do list.
What piece of advice would you give to someone starting out in family practice?
I would advise everyone to familiarise themselves with the Red Book from day 1, as it is an invaluable resource once you know how to navigate it well.
If you were not a family solicitor, what would you be doing?
If I was answering this as my 5-year-old self, I would be a crane driver. Sadly, I have since discovered a fear of heights. Now, I would say a published author.
Who or what inspires you?
My late grandma, who was a legal secretary for Kingsley Napley, Gray’s Inn Tax Chambers and then in the Houses of Parliament in the 1960s and 1970s.
What are you most proud of in your career?
Achieving an amazing outcome for my client which involved retaining 73% of the assets after three years of litigation where we faced disclosure issues throughout.
What advice would you give your younger self?
You don’t need to take yourself so seriously – and relax!
Choose three words that best describe you.
Tenacious, diligent, empathetic
What can’t you live without?
My cat Obi, dancing and extra mature cheddar cheese.