A family law lawyer has said the number of clients she has taken on since Christmas “is off the Richter scale“.

“Usually most call to make an enquiry. They don’t all necessarily translate into cases, but that’s what’s happening now. I took on 10 new clients in January alone”, said Marion Campbell at KOD Lyons.

She said couples must wait until December 2021 or spring 2022 to have their day in court so until then, the vast majority of her clients are living and working under the same roof, even though they may be undergoing messy situations.

“Some couples have taken safety orders out against each other. I can tell you there are huge mental health problems coming down the track. I’m seeing depression, addiction – especially to alcohol,” she said.

She also commented on the lack of awareness of a no-fault divorce regime.

“The other thing, particularly women, say to me

When a husband has had an affair, the women tell her, “I’m going to go for him in court,” but she has to tell them “the court is not concerned about why their marriage has broken down. We don’t have a fault-based system of separation in Ireland”.

“So your husband – or wife – can have multiple affairs. The court simply wants to ensure the couple have been apart for a sufficient time in order to legally separate and then divide up the ‘asset pot’ to ensure everyone has proper provision.”