Associate Spotlight: Kelly Harwood

Our Associate Spotlight turns the focus to the brilliant Associates at Dawson Cornwell.  Here we highlight the breadth and depth of experience in the firm, as well as the wide range of personalities and interests that make us who we are.

Kelly Harwood, a senior associate in the Children Department who qualified in 2002, shares her thoughts.

What type of work do you undertake at Dawson Cornwell?
My practice is mixed; I undertake private law children work as well as public children work. I also undertake work involving issues of international family law such as Wardship Proceedings and Hague Proceedings. I also undertake work in respect of Injunctions and forced marriages.

In addition to this, I have been lucky to gain experience in financial matters following divorce, TOLATA applications, and schedule one applications.

I enjoy having a mixed practice; every day is different with different challenges. Because of my experience, I can offer a range of advice and assistance which not every solicitor is able to do. Working at Dawson Cornwell has enabled me to continue to do what I love and enjoy the most, and I feel privileged and proud to work with some of the most dedicated, caring, and intelligent people.  

Why did you want to get into law, and what led you to family law?
I was bullied as a child and had to quickly learn to stick up for myself. From that point on, I have always been keen to help those who don’t have a voice. Family Law seemed the right fit for me because I can give a voice to vulnerable clients.

I have always wanted to make a difference in people’s lives and family law has given me the ability to achieve this.

What has been your biggest career challenge?
I have become increasingly frustrated with the delays in family proceedings and not being able to do anything about it. Such delays can be potentially damaging for parties and children involved.

I also struggle with the principle of equal justice and fairness when quite clearly this is often not the case where, for example, one party is in receipt of legal aid and the other party is paying privately. Those who can afford to pay to instruct experts privately will have far more choice available to them as not all experts will agree to work at the much lower legal aid rates.

And your biggest success?
It’s hard to measure success when it comes to matters involving children, but to know that I have been able to protect someone from harm, to ensure that a child has regular access to both parents (if it is safe to do so), or to reunite a child with a parent whom they have been forcibly separated from is the biggest success for me.

Although the job can be hard and stressful sometimes, it is also very rewarding. To be able to be apart of people’s lives and know that I have achieved a good outcome for a client is a privilege and so I take my role very seriously.

What do you think is the biggest issue facing family law at the moment?
Unfortunately, as I have alluded to above there are several issues that family law is facing.  

The lack of funding in the legal system is a huge problem and has caused great delays in getting hearing dates, which can have serious implications – for example, where a parent is not able to have contact. The damage that this can cause a child cannot be understated. 

I also believe that there needs to be more training and understanding of cultural differences. This doesn’t just apply to the judiciary, but also other professional agencies like social services who are often involved in court proceedings.

Do you have any advice for people looking at a career in family law?
If you are someone who likes a challenge and likes to deal with something different every day whilst being able to help make a difference in people’s lives, then family law might be for you.

Family Law is not for the faint hearted; it often involves complex situations on top of which you have to be able to manage parties’ and children’s complex needs and emotions. It requires a lot of dedication, hard work, and you obviously need to be skilled and knowledgeable to deal with different eventualities, but the rewards of being able to help people through the most difficult times in their life is a privilege.   

You need to be passionate about your work whilst always remaining professional. You are not going to please every client, but it is essential that you are able to provide robust and realistic advice so that you not only manage expectations, but you give clients the best opportunity to achieve the best outcome for themselves.  

If your life had a theme tune, what would it be?
Maniac from Flashdance.

What’s at the top of your bucket list?
I would love to be able to sing.

If you could have a superpower, what would you choose?
To make the world a better, peaceful, safe place where everyone gets along and enjoys life.

I know that sounds corny, but having two young girls that I fought so hard to bring into this world, I really want to ensure their futures are full of joy and happiness.  

Kelly Harwood

Please note that this blog is provided for general information only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content of this blog.