After spending 13 years as a secretary in the Family team, Dawn qualified as a paralegal in 2000 and since then, has been running her own private children law case load. She was awarded Best Family Law Paralegal in the inaugural National Paralegal Awards in 2019 and again in 2020 when she was also highly commended for Paralegal of the Year – South in recognition of the “excellence to her clients and a commitment to her profession”.

Dawn has been recognised in the Legal 500 as someone who “really understands what clients want and need”.

Dawn is a Fellow of the Institute of Paralegals, which is the highest grade of membership for practising paralegals.

Notable work highlights

  • Extensive experience in advising parents who are in dispute as to the arrangements for their children following separation or divorce and in advising grandparents seeking contact with their grandchildren.
  • Advises in particularly complex cases involving disabilities; special needs; drug and/or alcohol abuse; domestic abuse; cultural and/or religious issues.
  • Acted for the father of young children when he was denied contact following allegations made against him. Issues raised in the case involved mental health concerns, alcohol abuse, allegations of failure to safeguard children, sexual abuse, domestic abuse and parental alienation. Order made for children to live with father.
  • Represented mother on an application made by the father for contact with their child. Encouraged parents to engage in hybrid-mediation with their legal representatives present when it was then possible to identify and resolve the issues between them both with an order being made by consent without the need for contested Court proceedings.

Away from the office

Having ‘retired’ from competing in archery tournaments around the Country, Dawn is a keen landscape and wildlife photographer. Fortunately her husband supports this hobby as annual holidays are usually chosen for their stunning scenery or abundance of wildlife whether in the UK or abroad.

Accreditations & Memberships

  • Fellow of the Institute of Paralegals.
  • Member of Resolution.
  • Dragonfly Champion.
  • FSSH – Family Separation Support Hub member.

Answers are just a click away