Ruth Hawkins

Ruth Hawkins is a founding partner of Boardman, Hawkins & Osborne LLP.

Ruth is an experienced family solicitor, having qualified in 1997.

Ruth has been a member of the Law Society’s Children Panel since 2005, which means that she specialises in childcare and complex children litigation, and is able to represent children and young people in court proceedings.

Ruth also became a family mediator in 2012 and mediates in all areas of family disputes including children and financial disputes.  This allows her to use her vast experience in childcare law, and child development, in her mediation practice. Ruth has recently undertaken the What about Henry Course on child development. https://www.onlymums.org/what-about-henry

In her Legal practice, Ruth specialises in acting for children, parents and family members, grandparents and aunts and uncles in court proceedings including care proceedings, children law disputes, adoption and wardship.

As well as being a member of the Law Society’s Children Panel, Ruth is a member of the Association of Lawyers for Children and Resolution.  Ruth is also a Family Law Panel member https://thefamilylawpanel.org/  through Only Mums/Only Dads and provides assistance through that scheme and is also a regular contributor to their publications.

Ruth leads the firm’s community and charity involvement, both locally and nationally. Ruth is a Trustee of Abingdon Carousel, the Children’s Centre in Abingdon, and is a passionate advocate for community services, especially for those more vulnerable members of the community.

She is rated in Chambers & Partners as a key individual. “Ruth is always professional and compassionate…..shows real dedication to her clients. She has a willingness to go above and beyond and is very helpful.”

Legal 500 notes that “Ruth Hawkins is someone you want on your side in divorce and care proceedings, she is compassionate and sensitive to her client’s needs, but fights hard to deliver the best outcomes for her clients.”

As can be seen, Ruth prides herself in acting for her clients in a humane compassionate way, and is well regarded for her problem-solving approach.

Ruth is especially keen to use her skills and experience to develop her mediation practice and help couples and parents to find better ways of resolving the issues that arise upon separation.

Read what clients say:

This is the first time I’ve ever had to deal with solicitors and court but very quickly I became comfortable and felt like I was properly being heard and that is due to Ruth being very fair, understanding, hard working and going above and beyond to get the job done.

“Ruth Hawkins’ calm, considerate approach – always putting the children’s interests first – has helped me to navigate extremely complex circumstances in the best possible way.”

‘Ruth possesses a winning combination of fierce intelligence and great sensitivity which she applies to all her cases. She invests herself fully in her clients. They are lucky to have her on their side!’ (Barrister)

‘Ruth has extensive experience in children proceedings and her expertise is underpinned by an empathetic but realistic approach. Her cases are always extremely well prepared, and she is willing to go the extra mile for her clients. I have no hesitation in recommending her and do so frequently.’ (Barrister)

‘Ruth has represented me several times in the last 15 years; she is extremely professional and has always treated me with respect, understanding and compassion.’

“Ruth regularly gives me advice which is prompt, comprehensive and reliable in language which makes sense. Her advocacy in Court is skilled, authoritative and reassuring.”

“You’ve both been really helpful and supportive through all this, and it was a great relief to have somebody on my side. We’re hoping to put all this behind us as far as possible and concentrate on working with the new social worker. It will be a real relief to be able to get things back on track without court hanging over us.
Many thanks again for your work.” (SE – client)

“If you’re looking for a firm that’s ethical and dedicated to your case then look no further. BH&O gave me incredible support as I went through what 35 year tenure judge said was their most complex, and achieved success not just for me but for my children.” ON, June 2022

“The moment I made contact everyone has been so informative and helpful, Ruth has been amazing, always honest, changed things when needed with great support and expertise. Thank you Ruth and team.”

Contact

Direct: 01235 425502

Reported cases and articles:

Boardman, Hawkins & Osborne articles:

Plan ahead for school holidays

July 03, 2023

Don’t wait until school holiday are here before you think about your parenting arrangements and pl

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Changes in Legal Aid in Special Guardianship cases

May 31, 2023

There has been a very welcome recent change in eligibility for Legal Aid for those involved in Speci

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Help for separating parents in the Court Process

May 31, 2023

Until recently, parents who could not reach agreement on their child or children’s arrangements, a

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Family Mediation Week

January 16, 2023

Family Mediation Week 16th to 20th January 2023 By Karen Newman and Ruth Hawkins Family Mediation we

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Helen Bishop to head BH&O matrimonial department

November 02, 2022

Boardman Hawkins & Osborne LLP are delighted to have appointed Helen Bishop to head their matrim

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BH&O: 4 years and counting!

August 31, 2022

1st September marks our 4th Birthday. What have we achieved over those four years? When Emily, Irena

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World Mental Health Day

October 10, 2023

World Mental Health Day (10 Oct) is a day to talk about mental health and show everyone that mental

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Parenting through separation – a new guide for separating parents

July 29, 2021

If you are a parent thinking about divorce or separation, one of your biggest worries is likely to b

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101 Questions Answered When Separating With Children

June 07, 2021

Boardman Hawkins & Osborne have decided to provide our clients, prospective clients, and anyone

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Co-parenting tips.

March 10, 2021

Regardless of whether you are married, divorced, or separated, co-parenting is never easy when you a

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International Women’s Day 2021

March 08, 2021

International women’s day this year must for many working women take on a greater significance? Mo

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Christmas cheer – especially this year!

December 18, 2020

The team at BH&O have been working harder than ever throughout this year but still had time to d

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Family mediation – working together to resolve your family issues.

June 13, 2023

When you separate, there are often a whole host of issues that you need to consider, and if possible

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Kinship care: What order do I need?

October 16, 2020

At BH&O, we know what a great job many grandparents, aunts and uncles and relatives are doing in

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Grandparents Day: 6th October

October 01, 2020

Grandparents Day approaches this weekend and this year, it must surely take on a greater significanc

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3 Ock Street; the home of BH&O

September 24, 2020

When we formed this firm just over two years ago, whilst we set out to establish a modern, innovativ

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Separation and parenting through the pandemic: key questions answered

July 14, 2020

Irena and I are delighted to have contributed to this new book, a supplement to last year’s 101 qu

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How should I talk to my child about Covid-19?

March 20, 2020

Top tips to help parents. Much of this is based on an article published last week by UNICEF Australi

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Family Mediation Week – Busting some myths!

January 21, 2020

Family Mediation Week has come around again. But what is family mediation? Put simply, it’s a way

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Kinship care week

October 07, 2019

5th to 11th October is Kinship Care week.  At BH&O, we know what a great job many grandpare

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BH&O supporting
Happy Even After: a play about domestic abuse

October 04, 2019

Last night BH&O sponsored the launch of a new play written by local play-write Gaye Poole, Happy

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BH&O – a young firm, in touch with our heritage!

September 17, 2019

When Emily, Irena and I started planning this firm, we wanted to create a modern thinking innovative

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Great Legal Bake Off

February 27, 2019

Boardman Hawkins & Osborne are delighted to be taking part in this year’s Great Legal Bake Off

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101 Questions Answered About Separating with Children

February 01, 2019

Ruth Hawkins has contributed to this New Book 101 Questions Answered About Separating with

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Family Mediation Week

January 21, 2019

This week (21st January) is Family Mediation Week. It is designed to highlight and raise awareness o

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What happens to the wider family when parents separate?

January 10, 2019

It’s that time of year when families come together, and grandparents and aunts and uncles get to s

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Paying it forward…. or giving back to clients and our community.

December 14, 2018

We’ve now been open for three months. It’s been a very busy period, which Emily has already writ

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Tips for managing Christmas for separated parents

November 12, 2018

Co-written by: Ruth Hawkins, Solicitor & Mediator, Partner and Helen Bishop, Consultant Solicito

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A crying shame…?

October 25, 2018

By Ruth Hawkins A report published this week by the Children’s Commissioner for England, sugge

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Civil Partnerships for all!

October 25, 2018

By Ruth Hawkins As has been reported in the media, the Prime Minister, Theresa May, has announced th

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New guidelines for difficult family disputes: tackling parental alienation.

September 13, 2018

When parents separate, arrangements for their children, can be hard to agree. It can be particularly

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