THE only qualified family law Arbitrator in Dundee has set up her own legal practice following 15 years with one of Scotland’s largest law firms.
Amanda Wilson, formerly a Partner with Thorntons, has launched Amanda Wilson Family Law, providing specialist support for families on everything from separation to surrogacy.
As one of only three Dundee lawyers accredited as a Specialist in Family Law by the Law Society of Scotland, Amanda, who graduated in Law from the University of Dundee in 2005, has dedicated her working life to supporting local families.
As a strong believer that court is a last resort, Amanda is also trained in Collaborative Law and Dundee’s only Family Law Arbitration Group Scotland (FLAGS) Arbitrator, using various skills and techniques to help clients reach a dignified and amicable settlement.
Describing the current climate as ‘a pivotal time for family law’ Amanda has launched her practice as a number of national changes are due to come into effect over the next 12 months, particularly in relation to updating the current laws on surrogacy and cohabitation. In addition, there could be widespread repercussions from the Civil Partnerships (Scotland) Act 2020 which permits opposite sex couples to enter civil partnerships or convert existing marriages into civil partnerships. Brexit will also spark huge implications for family law, especially where one parent lives in the UK and another in a different EU state.
Amanda said, “Family law is a fast-moving area of law but, as we approach a new year, a number of particularly significant changes are likely to take effect, affecting thousands of families across the country so gaining specialist rather than general support is more important than ever.
“Having supported hundreds of local families throughout my career, I’m acutely aware that family means everything so I’ll be providing a personal service where I can really understand my clients’ needs, and that of their family, ensuring they achieve the best outcome for their specific situation. I also aim to take the confusion out of the process with a refreshing approach to clear communication and flexibility, characteristics not always associated with the legal profession, ensuring that clients really understand the legalities of their case and trust the process.”
A former Dean of the Dundee Faculty, Amanda is a familiar face at Dundee Sheriff Court and experienced in instructing Counsel in Court of Session cases. Amanda is also a former Director of local charity Relationships Scotland – Family Mediation Tayside and Fife and has previously shared her experience in Professional Ethics with the next generation of lawyers, tutoring postgraduates on the Diploma in Legal Practice Course at the University of Dundee for almost a decade.
