Southampton’s Family Law Surge: Exploring the Rise in Legal Services

Southampton has indeed become a growing hub for family law, reflecting broader trends across the UK’s legal market. There are several factors contributing to this growth. For one, law firms are actively expanding their family law departments in response to rising demand for services like divorce, child custody, and financial settlements. A notable driver of this demand is demographic changes, such as higher divorce rates and an increasing number of blended families needing legal services.

A 2024 report by Today's Family Lawyer reveals that the family law market's value grew by 5.4% in 2023, surpassing £2 billion for the first time. This growth was fuelled by an increase in advice for high-net-worth individuals, complex cases, particularly under the Children Act, and rising demand for financial guidance following divorce. Much of this surge can be attributed to the spike in divorce cases in 2022, following the implementation of the Divorce, Dissolution, and Separation Act (2020) in April 2022.

According to recent trends, law firms in the UK are prioritising lateral hires and promotions within family law departments. 2023 saw many firms increasing their family law teams, both through internal promotions and external hires, as a result of the increased workload. Firms on the South Coast, including Southampton, have been key players in this, particularly as family law has become less centralised in London and more distributed across regions with growing populations. This saw specialised family law firms such as Stowe Family Law undergoing rapid expansion, including the addition of over 65 new locations since 2020 and acquisitions like Chapman Pieri and Crisp & Co, highlighting the rising demand for family law services, particularly in the south of England. 

Additionally, the region saw a significant rise in lateral hires across practice areas that are less tied to corporate activities, such as litigation, employment, and family law. This strategic hiring aligns with broader legal trends where firms focus on high-demand services like family law, restructuring, and litigation.

Despite there currently being an influx of new roles in the market, there has actually been a shortage of candidates recently, making it an excellent time to consider making a move. In a candidate-short market, prime opportunities arise for those open to exploring new roles. Moving at a time like this provides substantial advantages such as improved benefits packages and accelerated career growth into senior positions.

If you're considering a move, get in touch with me for a confidential chat:  Eve@jmc-legal.com / 0203 865 2113