A partner at law firm Blake Morgan is to become a debut author – publishing a handbook offering advice on the menopause and family law, and will be donating all royalties to charity.
Jennifer Williamson, a partner at the firm, has written ‘A practical guide to menopause and family law’ to support both legal practitioners and a charitable cause.
The menopause is thought to be a contributing factor to more than half of all divorces, and Jennifer’s new book explores how experiencing the menopause at the same time as undergoing a divorce can impact a client’s legal case.
It is hoped that the book, published by Law Brief Publishing Ltd, will offer essential advice for those working in the family law space, helping experts to provide better advice and client care to clients. Jennifer has also committed to donating her royalties from the book to The Menopause Charity which charity’s work aims to help everyone understand perimenopause and menopause so no one needlessly suffers.
Through research, Jennifer noticed that the average age of onset of perimenopausal symptoms now coincides with the average divorce age. Beginning with a breakfast briefing on the topic, which was hosted at Blake Morgan’s Southampton office, to over 40 family lawyers, Jennifer sought to explore this theme further, before deciding that it would be worth putting pen to paper in a published handbook.
‘A practical guide to menopause and family law’ addresses both the technical elements of the topic, such as the most common types of family law claims and how menopausal symptoms might impact these, as well as considerations for client care, including awareness of the potential vulnerability of clients. Jennifer is hoping to continue leading the conversation in this area, and later this year she will be the guest of honour at a breakfast briefing hosted by the ‘Legally Flushed’ initiative which aims to support women in legal careers.
Jennifer Williamson, partner at Blake Morgan, and author of the book, said:
"For many people, the menopause remains a taboo or hidden factor – underappreciated in several areas including family law. It is important that we help our sector, colleagues and clients be better informed, ensuring we offer expert and well-rounded legal advice and achieve the best possible outcomes. It is my hope that practitioners will find this book helpful and instructive, and that through its publication, we can also support a deserving charitable cause."
Blake Morgan is committed to supporting people transitioning through menopause. Beyond the book, and Jennifer’s work, the firm offers its staff a Menopause Mentors scheme in partnership with Over the Bloody Moon, a specialist menopause consultancy. It also maintains a comprehensive and inclusive Menopause in the Workplace Policy and Guide to support colleagues and provide guidance to managers.
