Wendy Hopkins Family Law Practice

We are a forward-thinking law firm and we strongly believe in providing both a diverse working environment and equal opportunities for both employees and our clients. In 2011 we were the first law firm in Wales to join Stonewall’s Diversity Champions Programme. This programme promotes good practice for employers, creating excellent working environments for all employees whilst ensuring equal treatment. We have a long history of working with the LGBT+ community to resolve the issues that arise from the end of a relationship. We were one of the first law firms in Wales to offer a specialist service for clients in Civil Partnerships and same-sex relationships. We feel strongly about being a member of the Stonewall programme as it reflects our values, beliefs, attitudes and behaviour.

Our ethos is to encourage personal development throughout the firm, this is why we focus on promoting internally. Two of our directors, an associate, and all our solicitors started as trainees within the firm. We base our selection solely on the individual’s qualities. We understand it can be a mammoth task managing a work-life balance. We always ensure to take care of our employees and one of our directors has qualified as a Mental Health First Aider.

In a report from the Solicitors Regulation Authority, ‘The business case for diversity’ (2017), it was reported that 48% of all solicitors are women, whilst only 33% of law firm partners are women. We go against the grain with 4 out of our 5 Directors being women.

It is important to us that we aspire to be a diverse company from both an employee and client perspective. As part of our charity of the year initiative we currently support and raise funds for Llamau, a homeless charity that supports young people, women and their children who are homeless or facing homelessness. Our private client (wills and probate) team frequently volunteer their time and provide free Wills to patients of Maggie’s Cardiff. Maggie’s offer free support to anyone with cancer and their families, they have centres built on the grounds of NHS cancer hospitals. One of our Associates also attends a free Legal Clinic at The Children’s Centre for Wales based at Swansea University.

We previously supported Cerebral Palsy Cymru as our charity of the year for a two-year period. In addition, we formerly provided regular pro bono work at a legal advice clinic run by Support Through Court which focuses on helping
disadvantaged people facing the civil and family justice system without a lawyer.

We ensure to treat all clients equally regardless of background or culture and provide clients with the option to communicate in English and Welsh.

We have an accessible office with disabled access and facilities.