Bridget Garrood
Exeter, Devon EX2 5FD
United Kingdom
Profession(s)
Solicitor, OtherBridget’s values as a family lawyer have been rooted in the Resolution Code of Conduct since 1992, and in her training as a Collaborative Family Lawyer since 2005. She currently practices as a Consultant Solicitor with Ian Walker Family Law and Mediation. She has practiced family law in Exeter throughout her career, and was a partner at Cartridges Law for 20 years. Bridget is also a former Chair of Devon Resolution, and specialises in the financial, property and pension aspects of family breakdown, and the tricky legal minefield surrounding cohabitation. In 2001, Bridget was one of the first solicitors to be accredited by Resolution as a Specialist Family Lawyer with expertise in Pensions on Divorce, and in Cohabitation.
Bridget also helped to found the Association of Family Law Supervisors. See www.familylawsupervisors.co.uk She is proud to hold a FLiP Faculty diploma in Family Law Supervision. This qualifies her to offer to family law firms, chambers and individuals a reflective, independent, confidential space, which supports the lawyer in turn to support the effective care of their family law clients, by building and maintaining resilience in their professional roles , whether as lawyers or other key workers within the Family Justice system, from judges to paralegals.
Professional Activities
Full time practicing Solicitor 1994 to 2022 as Member of the Law Society of England and Wales Member of Exeter and South Devon Collaborative Law POD Full time equity partner of Cartridges Law 1999 to 2019 The Law Society LGBTQ+ Solicitors Network Committee member since 2017. Project lead for Trans and Non-binary inclusion project. Member of UK & Ireland LGBT Family Law institute (affiliated to LGBT Family Law Institute®, a joint venture of the LGBTQ+ Bar and the National Center for Lesbian Rights, which allows experienced LGBTQ+ family law practitioners to share collective wisdom and to discuss cutting-edge legal strategies for representing members of the LGBTQ+ community.) Former Chair of Devon Solicitors Family Law Association (now Devon Resolution ) In addition to my practice as a solicitor, I am now trained and qualifies as a Reflective Practice Family Law Supervisor , which is a role focussed on supporting the wellbeing of family lawyers , and I am contracted to a separate law firm as Family Law Supervisor to a range of their lawyers from newly qualified to partner. Activist for reform and advancement of LGBTQ+ legal rightsUndergraduate Education
University of Exeter BA (Hons) Soc St 1981-1984
Postgraduate Education
University of the West of England - Common Professional Examinations 1988- 1990
Professional Education
University of the West of England - Law Society Finals 1991- 1992
Comments
Amongst her career highlights, Bridget lists her work for her LGBTQ+ clients, including her niche legal expertise working with trans and non-binary clients, plus her contribution to the Civil Partnership Act of 2004 as part of a working party of the Lesbian and Gay Lawyers Association (LAGLA). In 2019 Bridget was honoured to join the UK and Ireland LGBT+ Family Law Institute, part of a global network of leading family lawyers who are often at the cutting edge of LGBT+ family law issues including fertility, children law, matrimonial law, finances and gender identity. As a volunteer committee member for The Law Society’s LGBTQ+ solicitors Network , Bridget is a regular contributor to their blogs, events and podcasts. She supports and mentors aspiring and fellow lawyers at all stages of their career journeys as from trainee solicitor or pupil barrister, to circuit judge. In 2020 she won the Debbie Hill Award for the Exceptional Support of Students for being instrumental in setting up the LGBTQ+ and Law University of Exeter student project . She shares with fellow lawyers and others, her expertise not only in family law, (particularly as this affects LGBQT+ clients) but also in wellbeing, diversity and inclusion for the legal profession.