EVEN when she was at school in her home town of Darlington, Kirsty Nelson was standing up for the underdog. If she saw someone being picked on she would give them her support and do her best to find an amicable resolution.

“It’s just the way I’ve always been,” she says. “I can’t bear to see someone being treated unfairly.”

Indeed, that instinct has remained with Kirsty throughout her professional life as a solicitor who specialises in the sensitive and often complex area of family law.

As one of the North-East’s most experienced family law experts, Kirsty recently joined Watson Woodhouse as a senior solicitor with the aim of strengthening the already well-established team.

Having worked for other law firms around the country, a key factor in her move to Watson Woodhouse was the company’s continuing commitment to legal aid contracts.

“While most other law firms want to move away from legal aid work, Watson Woodhouse remains very focused on that area, which often means helping the most vulnerable members of society.

“I became a solicitor because I wanted to help people in difficult situations and Watson Woodhouse shares that philosophy – it’s a law firm with a social conscience and that’s really important to me.”

It’s also important to Kirsty that she is working on her home patch, where her local knowledge and network of professional contacts can be maximised.

Darlington born and bred, Kirsty attended Heighington and Holy Family primary schools, then Carmel College in Darlington, before studying for a law degree at Lancaster University. She worked in Liverpool for five years in defence litigation before moving to Kendal to work for a high street firm, where she began to specialise in family law while also practising criminal law.

Kirsty came to realise that family law was her main passion, so criminal law was dropped and her specialism developed until she returned to her home town of Darlington in 2004 to specialise in care proceedings for another local law firm.

Since then Kirsty has become firmly established in the local area as a leading exponent in family law, building invaluable connections with local authorities, chiefly Darlington Borough Council, Durham County Council and North Yorkshire County Council.

“Relationships are so important in family law and it is a huge advantage to know a wide range of professionals who are likely to be involved in care proceedings,” she says.

“Because of my experience in this complex area of the law, I fully appreciate what people are going through.

“It can be very stressful and often it’s about persuading people that social services aren’t the enemy but that they are trying to get the best outcome.”

In 2008, Kirsty’s specialist credentials were cemented when she went onto the Law Society Children’s Panel, which takes into account an applicant’s training record and the quality of their case reports, as well as requires them to pass a test. Applicants have to reapply every five years to ensure standards have been maintained.

Throughout her career, Kirsty – a mother-of-two – has gained a reputation for no-nonsense, practical, firm and realistic advice, with the best result for the child always being her number one priority.

She will now use her expertise and connections to build on the solid foundations laid by Watson Woodhouse on Teesside and raise the company’s profile in Darlington and North Yorkshire.

Watson Woodhouse has offices in Middlesbrough, Stockton, Darlington, Northallerton and Harrogate. Kirsty will concentrate on child protection but is part of a team that covers all aspects of family law, including divorce, parental disputes involving children, abduction cases and domestic violence injunctions.

“I’m joining a really good team with a strong reputation but there is a need to grow and meet the need for legal aid work across the wider region,” she says. “For me it’s about helping people and leading them through what can be a really stressful process.”

Just as she did at school in Darlington, Kirsty Nelson still wants to support those being treated unfairly, and find the best outcome.

Kirsty Nelson is based at 3 Duke Street, Darlington and can be contacted on 01325 462598 or by email at knelson@watstonwoodhouse.co.uk.