A SPECIALIST practice of family law solicitors has gained an award for its innovative and successful business model.

Stantons in High Street, Strood, has been recognised as the first company in the South East to be successfully assessed against the Investors in People's WorkLife Balance Model.

The practice, founded by senior partner Jan Stanton, employs 26 people, including eight specialist family law solicitors.

Ms Stanton said: "We are delighted to have gained this accreditation but an award was not our primary aim.

"Our business target is to be the best family law specialist practice in the South East. But we have found that many of the best family law solicitors across the country were leaving the profession on having their own families.

"They were keen to continue working but unwilling to return to the long and stressful hours traditionally associated with legal practices.

"The most talented people in this complex legal field were also increasingly reluctant to work in general practices where family law was just a bolt-on extra.

"By changing our working practices to enable flexible working we have been able to attract and retain exceptionally high calibre legal practitioners.

"As a result, we offer our clients a wide range of specialist panel memberships."

Ms Stanton said hard commerical drivers led the introduction of the new business model.

"There is nothing 'touchy feely' about our approach," she added. "We are running a successful business by offering our clients excellent services from highly qualified and experienced professionals."

During its development as a niche legal business, Stantons has regularly sought advice and guidance from Business Link Kent.

"Business Link Kent has helped us in numerous ways since we decided to lauch our practice management three years ago.

"We have also been fortunate to have been given unfailing support form our business bank, Llyods TSB," added Ms Stanton.