The Family Law Company is a boutique law firm in the South West of England which handles the full spectrum of family law matters.
With Damar Training, they have been able to develop an apprenticeship strategy that addresses multiple challenges simultaneously: recruitment, retention, diversity, financial constraints and succession planning.
The challenge: Competing for talent in a competitive market
Jess Everett, Head of HR, Training and Development at The Family Law Company, faced a complex recruitment and retention challenge. As a smaller firm doing substantial legal aid work, they couldn’t always compete with the higher salary packages offered by larger firms or London practices, and wanted to keep things fair for all their employees.
Beyond finances, they also needed to:
- Build a diverse workforce by providing opportunities for talented individuals who couldn’t afford university or hadn’t followed traditional academic pathways
- Create loyalty and reduce turnover in an increasingly competitive market
- Develop future leaders who understand and embody the firm’s values and culture
- Offer clear progression routes that would attract ambitious candidates during the recruitment process.
“We’re looking ten to 20 years ahead for our future partners,” says Jess. “Candidates now ask about progression routes in interviews. We needed a solution that would help us compete on opportunity, not just salary.”
The solution: A strategic partnership with Damar Training
The Family Law Company turned to apprenticeships as their answer, partnering exclusively with Damar Training to deliver their entire apprenticeship programme. Over the past three years, they’ve used apprenticeships for 14 members of their team, including business admin, paralegal, solicitor and management apprentices.
The partnership with Damar provides comprehensive support through dedicated coaches and collaborative workshops. This support structure has proven crucial to the success of their apprenticeship strategy.
“I’ve had a lot of apprenticeship companies contact me and I just say no sorry, I’m using Damar. It’s important that we work with organisations who share our values. I’ve used them my entire time here and they’re just brilliant,” Jess states.
Success stories: Transforming careers and building confidence
Jessica Hammett: From team member to future leader
When Jessica Hammett joined The Family Law Company in 2023 as a member of the new client care team, she lacked confidence in her new role.
Just 14 months later, Jessica was promoted to Team Leader, managing both the First Impressions reception and new client call teams. The following month, she began her operations manager apprenticeship with Damar Training.
The transformation has been remarkable. Jessica has developed into a confident leader who thinks strategically about business impact. It has enabled her to understand different communication styles and become comfortable approaching directors and shareholders, which has facilitated better collaboration.
Jess Everett observes the change: “Some of the things that she’s doing now – implementing procedures and processes, thinking about the bigger picture – I don’t think she would have done that without the apprenticeship. She’s thinking more like a leader should.”
The results speak for themselves: “There’s definitely been an improvement in performance within the teams,” Jessica notes. Her teams are “a lot more productive” and their ability to collaborate and innovate has strengthened, despite working over multiple locations.
Chloe Jones: Building a legal career without traditional routes
Chloe Jones’s journey exemplifies exactly why The Family Law Company invested in apprenticeships. After studying criminology at university, Chloe joined the firm as a legal secretary. Rather than following the traditional – and costly – route to qualification, she completed her paralegal apprenticeship with Damar before embarking on the solicitor apprenticeship programme.
“All my coaches have been amazing,” Chloe says. This support proved invaluable when she faced a significant setback: failing her SQE exam. Rather than losing confidence, the strong support from her coach helped her re-build and prepare for her re-take.
As a result of the apprenticeship, Chloe has also developed crucial people skills and client care capabilities, alongside legal knowledge.
Two years on, Chloe is able to represent clients and bring in business – contributing directly to the firm’s bottom line while maintaining their commitment to legal aid work and accessible justice. She also mentors other colleagues undertaking apprenticeships, to support them on their journey.
The impact: Tangible results for the business and individuals
The partnership between The Family Law Company and Damar Training has delivered tangible results at both individual and organisational levels:
Business-level impact
- Enhanced operational efficiency: Implementation of new procedures and processes across teams, particularly in client-facing functions
- Improved client experience: Streamlined operations in new client care
- Reduced staff turnover: Building loyalty through clear progression pathways
- Stronger recruitment: Ability to attract talent by offering apprenticeship opportunities
- Cultural alignment: Staff molded to company values from early in their careers
- Future leadership pipeline: Developing tomorrow’s partners and directors.
Individual-level impact
- Increased confidence: Ability to confidently make decisions and communicate with clients and internal stakeholders
- Enhanced skills: From communication and networking to strategic thinking and leadership
- Career progression: Clear pathways from entry-level to professional qualifications
- Financial accessibility: Opportunities for those who couldn’t afford traditional routes
- Professional identity: Confidence in their roles and career choices.
Looking forward
The Family Law Company’s apprenticeship strategy represents more than just a training programme – it’s a fundamental approach to building a sustainable, values-driven legal practice.
Each apprentice represents not just an investment in an individual, but an investment in the firm’s future and its ability to continue providing accessible legal services to those who need them most.
Key Takeaways
✓ Apprenticeships as a competitive advantage: Small companies can compete with larger organisations by offering clear progression routes rather than just higher salaries
✓ The importance of the right training partner: Consistent, accessible support from coaches makes the difference
✓ Long-term thinking pays off: Investing in apprentices creates loyal, culturally-aligned future leaders
✓ Diversity through accessibility: Apprenticeships open legal careers to talented individuals who couldn’t afford traditional routes
✓ Business impact is measurable: From operational improvements to contract retention, apprenticeships deliver tangible ROI