Newcastle’s Top Divorce and Family Law Specialist, Joanne Major comments in the North East Times
The last couple of months have been monumental for niche family law practice, Major Family Law. At the end of September, the latest edition of the Legal 500 was published, naming Major Family Law as a top tier practice once again, and naming principal, Joanne Major, as a Leading Individual in the field of family law, the only family law lawyer in the North of England to be singled out in such a way.
According to the Legal 500, Major Family Law has a “pre-eminent practice”. It refers to Joanne as a “well-respected rainmaker” with “a keen eye for the market” who has “put together an extremely strong team”.
Then, on 9th October in the opulent surroundings of the Grand Ballroom at the Park Lane Hilton in London, Joanne was announced as Most Innovative Family Lawyer of the Year at the Jordans Publishing annual Family Law Awards.
Professional recognition and accolade is always welcome, but this is not merely boasting for boasting’s sake. Major Family Law prides itself on recognising and delivering what it is that clients want and need. The Legal 500 is described as the clients’ guide to the best lawyers in the country. Entries are collated by the publishers using in-depth research and independent references. No one can buy their way into the Legal 500 or dictate what is written about them. It is therefore a trusted and respected publication, both by members of the legal profession and lay clients. It is, if you like, the strongest endorsement of the business & its services there is.
Meanwhile, the significance of the award from the Jordans Family Law Awards is that it sends a very strong message, not only to the legal profession, but also to businesses generally, that creative thinking, determination, and concerted teamwork can truly level the playing field when it comes to standing out within a field of business. Major Family Law is small to medium sized, single discipline practice, situated on the southern borders of Northumberland. It does not have the marketing or advertising budget of many of the big hitters within the profession, but through being committed to excellence and the ability to communicate that effectively, the practice and every member of the team has won wider recognition and respect as a result. The award recognised that Major Family Law’s effective and creative use of social media has allowed them to “apply the most innovative solutions to promote and enhance their practice and lead the way for other practitioners to follow”.
The only lawyer and practice from the entire North of England to win an award, Joanne’s acceptance speech reinforced her belief in the strength of her team, and that “little things make the big things happen”.
In recognition of the significant role her hand-picked team play in the success of the practice, Joanne has now announced the formal appointment of her long-standing colleague and Major Family Law Office Manager, Jane Henderson, as the first co-director in the business. Joanne is firmly of the belief that the support and key skills offered by Jane have been instrumental in the success of the business thus far. But, of course, in true Major Family Law style, there is little time to enjoy these recent successes as plans are already afoot for the next projects.
Joanne Major is the principal and a trained Collaborative Lawyer of Major Family Law, the Divorce and Family Law Specialists, 12 West Road, Ponteland, Newcastle Upon Tyne. T: 01661 82 45 82 www.majorfamilylaw.co.uk. Twitter: @majorfamilylaw