Edward Cooke Family Law is a leading family law firm. As specialists in our field, we are passionately committed to utilising modern, constructive approaches to our work in order to ensure the very best service and outcomes for our clients.

We are recognised as a Leading Firm in The Legal 500 for Family Law, Family Mediation and Client Satisfaction and our Directors, Edward Cooke, Michelle Lewis, Lauren Guy and Associate Solicitor Victoria Maxwell, are ranked as Recommended Lawyers in The Legal 500, 2025. The firm is also ranked in Chambers & Partners 2024, with Edward Cooke ranked in band 1 of Family Lawyers in the South as well as in the mediation (ADR) rankings.

The firm has received further national recognition, being named Boutique Family Law Firm of the Year 2024 as well as being shortlisted for the Best Place to Work Award. Managing Director Edward Cooke was highly commended as Family Mediator of the Year 2024 and named Family Law Partner of the Year 2023 and in 2018 was awarded the John Cornwell Award from Resolution for his outstanding contribution towards supporting separating families.

Our child-centred, tailored approach enables us to help individuals, couples and families navigate their changing circumstances in the most constructive way, whenever possible through non-court dispute resolution. However, where court proceedings are necessary our extensive experience and network of expert barristers and other key professionals ensures our clients benefit from the same quality service one would expect from the larger London firms. 

As a growing firm with focused ambitions, we are always interested to hear from specialist family lawyers who share our philosophy and are looking to take the next step in their career. You may be interested to learn more about our team here, and view our videos here. 

Please do get in touch if you would like to discuss current and future opportunities to join the firm. 

”There is a dedication to the client and a professionalism with the service offered that is unmatched in the area.”
The Legal 500, 2022

Working with us

Our team is at the heart of our success and our ability to offer our clients the very best family law solutions. We are in an exciting period of sustained growth and are keen to hear from like-minded family law specialists who share our philosophy and are looking to take the next step in their career.

Please find our current vacancies below. If you would like to explore opportunities to work with us, please do get in touch. We would be happy to hear from you. 

Title:

Family Lawyer 5 Years PQE

Location:

Chichester or Brighton

Salary:

Competitive

Apply by:

30 November 2024

We are looking for a family lawyer ideally with a minimum of 5 years PQE to join our Chichester or Brighton team. Enthusiasm for out of court dispute resolution is a must and training in Collaborative Law or as a Mediator would be preferred, although the firm may offer training to the right candidate who is ready to expand their out of court offering. 

The role could be full-time or part-time and the successful candidate would be expected to service a mixed case load of family work.  As a small and expanding firm, all lawyers actively participate in business development and marketing activities to include blog writing and articles and attendance at networking opportunities.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Our Philosophy

We are specialists in our field - we focus on one area alone: family.

We are Resolution members - As active members of Resolution, we all fully embrace their devotion to the constructive resolution of family disputes as well as their ongoing training and development programmes.

We are committed to providing constructive solutions - All our directors are cross-trained so that they are not only highly experienced family lawyers, but also mediators and collaborative lawyers. We are proud to be among the relatively small proportion of family lawyers who are equipped to provide all three of these essential facets:  advice, mediation and collaborative support.

We provide a “London-quality service” on the South Coast - We have all practiced in larger commercial firms and work with the same professionals as larger firms; however, we appreciate the benefits to our clients of operating in a niche, boutique family law practice. We offer the same quality service as larger city firms, at a more affordable rate. And, of course, as a niche, family-focused firm, we are highly accessible.

We are innovators - We use the very latest methods in order to help our clients find solutions. For example, we offer hybrid and child-inclusive mediation and interdisciplinary collaborative practice, working with other professionals and the very latest technological developments in the family law sector.

We understand modern families - The 21st century family comes in all shapes and sizes. We support modern families of all structures and are specialists in the issues they face.

We are thought leaders -  Members of our team are passionate about family law and on facilitating constructive change in the world of family law for the benefit of families. Members of our team are at the forefront of this work, holding key positions in Resolution and other organisations and writing and lecturing regularly on family law issues.

We are passionate about access to justice and court work - While we always seek to help our clients reach a resolution without recourse to the court where possible, when court is necessary we represent clients robustly in order to achieve the best outcome for their family. Edward Cooke is also a renowned campaigner for family justice and court provision in the region.

We provide therapeutic support to all our lawyers - We look after our own physical and mental wellbeing as we believe that, to provide the very best service to our clients, we need to make sure we are properly supported, too. All lawyers in the practice have a confidential monthly meeting with a psychotherapist.

We understand that teamwork matters - We work collaboratively as a team, supporting each other, sharing best practice and working together towards the best outcomes for our clients. We also offer a free, twice weekly team exercise class to encourage all members of our team to be fit in body and mind and have a bit of fun together.

We are committed to giving back - Although we are rooted in our communities in Chichester and Brighton, we are focused on supporting families wherever we can. We are proud to have suppoted a wide range of charities both in the UK and abroad through a range of team fundraising activities.

Benefits

We are a close-knit team of individuals and are committed to achieving the best outcomes for our clients. We are proud that our approach and professionalism since we launched in 2018 has been recognised by both The Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners. In 2024, we were named Boutique Family Law Firm of the Year. 

We are equally passionate about creating a working environment which is professionally and personally fulfilling, enriching and supportive.

Being part of the Edward Cooke Family Law team brings: 

  • A supportive, nurturing team environment
  • Clear career progression opportunities
  • Family-friendly and hybrid working practices
  • Cutting-edge technology
  • Modern, spacious offices in Chichester and Brighton
  • A generous holiday allowance including extra day off for your birthday
  • A stakeholder pension scheme
  • Team events and charity release days
  • Twice weekly (non-compulsory!) team exercise class
  • Monthly, confidential one-on-one therapeutic support from a psychotherapist
  • Excellent ongoing professional and personal development opportunities
  • First class support from our experienced administrative and paralegal team

The Team

Learn more about our current team! We are a friendly and supportive group of experienced legal professionals and support staff, based across our two modern, spacious offices in Chilgrove and Brighton.

MEET THE FULL TEAM

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