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.

Subscribe to Today's Family Lawyer to receive our FREE weekly newsletter, out every Thursday and listen in to the podcast to hear all the latest news and views from across the family law sector. Thank you to our Podcast Sponsors LEAP.

The latest Today’s Family Lawyer podcast shines a spotlight on a challenge many firms acknowledge and struggle to tackle; the differentiation of service provision and effectively marketing those points of difference to prospective clients with clarity, confidence and distinction in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

Hosted by David Opie, the episode explores why so many family law practices still rely on cautious, inward‑looking messaging; and what they could achieve by adopting a more strategic, and yes sometimes controversial approach. Ryan Fenton, the founder of CaseFlow PPC, brings experience from both the UK and US legal markets, offering a comparison between two very different marketing cultures.

One of the most striking observations is the contrast in tone. While American firms are far more comfortable using direct, emotionally resonant language, UK practices often default to safe statements about longevity and experience. The podcast suggests this caution may be limiting firms’ ability to stand out at the very moment potential clients are searching for reassurance, clarity and action.

The discussion also highlights a persistent misconception around investment. Many UK firms still view digital advertising as a low‑cost add‑on rather than a core business function, despite operating in one of the most expensive sectors for Google Ads. By contrast, US firms routinely commit substantial budgets to structured campaigns, remarketing activity and tailored landing pages which are all tools that can dramatically improve conversion rates when used well.

Beyond tactics, the episode raises a broader point about public perception. While the profession increasingly champions non‑court solutions, the public still tends to view divorce through a combative lens. The podcast argues that bridging this gap requires clearer, more empathetic communication that meets clients where they are emotionally.

Listen in to Ryan's insight and experience from both sides of the pond. Far from being a bolt‑on, marketing should be a strategic discipline that family law firms continually invest in.

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

Subscribe to Today's Family Lawyer to receive our FREE weekly newsletter, out every Thursday and listen in to the podcast to hear all the latest news and views from across the family law sector. Thank you to our Podcast Sponsors LEAP.

Ahead of Family Mediation Week 2026 the Today’s Family Lawyer Podcast brings together three leading voices and contributors to the event to discuss the ambitions of the awareness campaign.

Hosted David Opie welcomes Romina Kamran, a fully accredited family mediator and founder of Arc Mediation and Digital MIAM, Paul Linsell, partner and head of the family law team at Boyes Turner and Sarah Manning, partner at Hall Brown Family Law and long‑standing chair of the Family Mediation Week committee to discuss the plans for National Mediation Week 2026 which runs from 26th-30th January 2026.

The trio explain the central aim of the week, which is run by the Family Mediation Council (FMC), is to ensure separating families are aware, at the earliest possible stage, that mediation is a viable, regulated and effective option for resolving disputes about children and finances, without defaulting immediately to court. The week is an opportunity to raise public awareness and build confidence in the mediation process.

Central to this is the FMC’s role in maintaining professional standards, overseeing the accreditation of mediators, setting a compulsory code of practice, and stipulating continuing professional development, supervision and appropriate safeguards such as professional indemnity insurance and complaints processes. For consumers and professionals alike, the FMC register provides reassurance that mediators have met stringent professional criteria.

Mediation, said Manning, is often misunderstood or overlooked, with many families assuming that instructing solicitors and proceeding towards litigation is the only available route. The week aims to highlight that mediation is not about conflict, nor is it about conciliation, a widely misunderstood misnomer. Rather mediation is abut about cooperation, communication and empowering families to make their own decisions safely and constructively.

This year's event sees an expanded programme offer events and training opportunities to both the public, and wider professionals. As Manning notes, many families first disclose relationship or parenting difficulties to teachers, GPs, counsellors or health visitors, well before approaching lawyers or mediators. By equipping those professionals with a basic understanding of mediation, the campaign seeks to improve early signposting and ensure families are aware of their options before positions harden and conflict escalates.

For those wanting to get involved, the Family Mediation Council has published a full programme of free webinars and in‑person events across England and Wales.

Webinar timetable:
https://www.familymediationcouncil.org.uk/family-mediation-week-2026-timetable/

In‑person events:
https://www.familymediationcouncil.org.uk/family-mediation-week-2026-local-events/

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

Subscribe to Today's Family Lawyer to receive our FREE weekly newsletter, out every Thursday and listen in to the podcast to hear all the latest news and views from across the family law sector. Thank you to our Podcast Sponsors LEAP.