Family law reform needs bold new approach
Solicitor Jenny Beck has spent a decade advocating for major changes in England’s family courts. As the government prepares to release its first family law strategy, she insists the moment calls for bold reforms rather than small adjustments to address what she describes as a failing system.
The system fails families
Beck, who chairs the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory and serves on the Law Society’s access to justice committee, speaks plainly. “The current system is neither fair nor effective for the children and families it should protect,” she stated during an interview at her firm’s office near London’s Central Family Court.
Her concerns are based on real cases. Beck Fitzgerald, the firm she co-founded with Susan Fitzgerald ten years ago, operates on two core principles: offering affordable legal help and driving policy changes. The firm’s work has revealed flaws in the system—some obvious, others less so—that create confusion and uneven outcomes for families.
One issue involved emergency protection orders under the Family Law Act. Molly Ashcroft, a director at the firm, said they contacted 96 courts to track how applications were processed. The findings showed stark differences in how courts handled the same requests. “Justice depended on where you lived, with each court operating under its own rules,” Beck said. The firm presented its findings to Sir Andrew McFarlane, president of the Family Division, who then brought together judges, court staff, and the domestic abuse commissioner. The effort led to a single, standardized process nationwide.
Neurodiversity and mandatory training
Beck’s efforts also focus on accessibility. Two years ago, she helped launch Family Law Advice for the Neurodivergent Community (FLANC), an initiative improving legal access for neurodivergent individuals. The group has shaped guidance from the Family Justice Council and created a dispute resolution toolkit designed for neurodivergent clients.
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“FLANC started as a way to make the law fairer,” Beck said. The project includes advising courts on adjustments, such as modifying hearing layouts to reduce sensory stress. It stands out as a collaboration between rival firms—Beck Fitzgerald and Duncan Lewis—working together on systemic solutions rather than competing for clients.
The firm’s culture encourages this kind of work. Employees participate in advocacy, from school programs on coercive control to supporting reunification projects. Leah Shannon-Tetsola, who recently qualified, said: “When I was studying law, I knew I”
Legal aid shortages and court backlogs
Beck recognizes some improvements over the past decade, including broader definitions of domestic abuse and increased court transparency. However, she argues that deeper problems—long delays, underfunded legal aid, and inconsistent decisions—need more than minor fixes.
The upcoming government strategy must tackle these core issues, she said. “If solicitors, who witness daily failures and human suffering, don’t speak up, we’re only applying temporary fixes to a much larger problem. If we are not the custodians of justice, who is?”
For now, Beck Fitzgerald continues its reform efforts. The firm’s work on neurodiversity and procedural consistency demonstrates how lawyers can push for meaningful change. But Beck’s position is firm: the strategy must address the root causes. “We have to solve the real problems, not just make small adjustments.”
