November 2025
AMD Solicitors have welcomed two new members of the Family Law Team to join Jo Morris, Solicitor/Director and Collaborative Lawyer. Experienced Solicitor, Jennifer Chudleigh, joined us in March, and Trainee Solicitor, Katie Andrews, will be qualifying into the Department later this year.
What recent changes to Family Law do you think will help families? Jo Morris
On April 2024 the Court rules, the Family Procedure Rules, changed, with an emphasis on resolving matters outside of Court and supporting and encouraging families to resolve their disputes in a different way. As a member of Resolution and a Collaborative Lawyer, I have always supported Non Court Dispute Resolution (NCDR) with a focus on resolving matters as constructively and amicably as possible, which has many benefits. NCDR can be particularly beneficial where there are children involved, and it can assist with co-parenting moving forward. It can be much less costly overall as well.
What impact did your personal life have on your career? Jennifer Chudleigh
My mother was a young widow so I experienced life with a single parent. She also fostered children, which instilled in us empathy. I’ve seen relationships between friends and family that have broken down and witnessed how parents have worked together for stability of their children. I feel very strongly about the impact a good family life has on communities and everyone’s overall well-being.
I worked for several years with a Women’s’ Refuge representing victims of domestic abuse. When my own children became teenagers, I also became a foster carer. Having another perspective on family life has helped broaden my approach to my work.
Whether nuclear, joined, mixed, single or blended, every adult and child has a right to enjoy a good and happy family life. Job satisfaction is in knowing that whatever I have done for a client has made their lives a little better.
Why do you want to be a family lawyer? Katie Andrews
I joined the area of Family Law in October 2023. I quickly developed a passion for supporting individuals as they navigate difficult family matters. Which can be a daunting and new area for most clients. I take pride in being able to provide support for clients in this challenging area.
I use my own personal experiences to assist me in showing empathy and an understanding to a client’s circumstances. My hope is that moving forward this will allow me to make a positive impact in making a daunting process more manageable for clients. Through my time observing matters and court hearings as a trainee, I have experienced first-hand the positive impact being a family lawyer can have on a client who is navigating this area.
In addition, I find the variety of Family Law to be enjoyable, yet challenging to enable me to continually develop my skills.
If you would like to arrange an appointment with one of our Family Team please contact us on 0117 9621205 or info@amdsolicitors.com
