The latest Today’s Family Lawyer podcast features Frank Arndt, founder of Paradigm Law and co‑founder of What a Judge Would Say. Arndt is well known in the sector. A former German judge. A specialist in international family law. A familiar face on the BBC’s red sofa. And a vocal commentator on LinkedIn. His new venture aims to tackle one of the most pressing problems in family justice: delay, cost and misinformation.

Arndt begins by sharing his unconventional route into English law. He arrived from Germany for a four‑week stay. He was offered a job on the spot. He stayed. Twenty‑three years later, he runs his own firm and remains passionate about the English family law system, despite its flaws.

The conversation quickly turns to the crisis facing the courts. Backlogs. Year‑long waits for final hearings. Spiralling costs. And a rise in contested financial remedy cases across all wealth brackets. Arndt explains how these pressures helped shape What a Judge Would Say, a service designed to give separating couples early, realistic guidance on likely judicial outcomes.

The model is simple. Clients provide their information. An experienced barrister or deputy judge produces an early neutral evaluation. The client then uses that opinion to negotiate, mediate or plan their next steps. It is, Arndt says, a way to bring transparency and realism into the process before costs escalate.

He is candid about the profession’s reluctance to embrace such tools. Early clarity can reduce billable hours. But, he argues, it is the right thing for families. It reduces conflict. It reduces misinformation. And it protects children from prolonged disputes.

The discussion also explores unbundled services, the rise of litigants in person, and the role of AI. Arndt is clear: AI will not replace lawyers, but AI‑enabled lawyers will outperform those who resist it. Used responsibly, he says, technology can support analysis, memory, pattern‑spotting and strategy—while humans retain the empathy and judgement that family law demands.

Feedback on What a Judge Would Say has been strong, including interest from the Cayman Islands and Scotland. Arndt sees real potential for international expansion. His mission is simple: give families the information they need earlier, reduce unnecessary litigation, and help people move on with their lives sooner.

The Today's Family Lawyer podcast is available on your preferred podcast provider and at www.todaysfamilylawyer.co.uk.

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