Business Hour
Paul Agnew chats to family lawyer and child welfare expert Sarah Bentley. Photography: Daniel Agnew
It was her father’s intuition that first steered Sarah Bentley towards a career as a solicitor. He recognised that, even as a young schoolgirl, his daughter enjoyed debating and was a good listener with a keen interest in both people and justice.
Thirty-two years on, Sarah is recognised as an expert in family and child welfare across East Lancashire, with her own renowned and fast-expanding practice based in Padiham.
“My parents were both headteachers who met at teacher training college and went on to have very successful vocations,” said Sarah. “That said, they didn’t push my brother or myself to follow in their footsteps. Dad suggested law as a good option for me and time has since proved him to be right.”
Dad passed away in 2007, but not before he had witnessed, with immense pride, Sarah’s remarkable rise. She was the first female solicitor in Lancashire to join the Duty Solicitors Scheme, became an agent for the Crown Prosecution Service and was also appointed to the Law Society Children Panel.
A former student at Burnley Girls High School, Sarah achieved a law degree at Birmingham University before completing her professional qualifications at Chester Law College.
She completed her articles at Southern, Jobling and Ashworth – a Burnley practice with a history dating back to 1792 and which later became Southerns Solicitors. Qualification followed in 1986 and she was made partner at Southerns in 1990 at the age of just 28.
Sarah’s early work covered the whole spectrum of law – conveyancing, litigation including family law and criminal advocacy, both prosecuting and defending.
In the mid 90’s, she turned her attention exclusively to family law and was soon accredited as a member of the Law Society Children Panel (LSCP) and became a member of the Advanced Family Law Panel (AFLP) – both vigorous processes.
“While I loved all aspects of law I just felt that the family side of things suited me best,” said Sarah. “The LSCP enabled me to represent children in care proceedings, while the AFLP recognised a level of excellence in financial matters within divorce.”
“I dislike conflict, but I do like to get an insight into people and their natures. I love working through issues and problems to find positive solutions.”
“It can be very challenging, sometimes heart-breaking work, and if anyone thinks of it as a glamour job then they couldn’t be further off the mark. But the upside comes in the challenge and the reward of a job well done. Not that you always win – I soon learned the need to be gracious in defeat, however disappointing or infuriating.”
Sarah established her own practice, Sarah Bentley Solicitors, in 2017 offering a client-centred service covering the many financial implications arising from divorce and cohabitation disputes, residence and contact proceedings under the Children Act.
“We appreciate that going through a divorce or any relationship breakdown is a stressful and anxious time, particularly when children are involved. It is imperative to always act with discretion and professionalism and to help clients approach all their many and varied problems in a practical way.”
The firm aspires to achieve the highest professional standards, with no compromise on quality or consistency. In year one, Sarah Bentley Solicitors achieved Lexcel, the Law Society’s legal practice quality mark for practice management and client care.
“Things are going well and we have trebled our team inside two years, looking wherever possible to give young local legal talent a chance to shine. Everyone has bought into the ethos and there is a united desire to help people through difficult times.”
“Feedback shows that clients trust us implicitly and that means everything. We also believe in making the law as easy to understand as we can, offering advice and support in a clear and concise way.”
Sarah was a founder member of the East Lancashire Domestic Violence Forum in Burnley, chairman of Governors of Habergham High School Burnley and the-then Thomas Whitham Sixth Form for over 10 years and also chairman of the town’s Citizen’s Advice Management Committee.
Now living in Whalley, Sarah is an active member at CrossFit in Clitheroe and a trustee/director at the CrossFit 180 Recovery Project.
“CrossFit 180 is a charity where people with addictions use exercise and training to break the cycle of abuse and crime to rebuild their lives. It’s immensely satisfying and some of the results are nothing short of incredible.”
So, it’s back to difficult personal situations and striving tirelessly to use expertise and experience for the benefit of people in need. In short, it’s precisely what Sarah Bentley does best.
www.sarahbentleysolicitors.co.uk
