Family lawyer Tim Melville-Walker appointed Deputy District Judge

MacDonald Oates LLP are delighted to announce that our Tim Melville-Walker, head of our family department, has been appointed a Deputy District Judge in the latest round of judicial appointments.

Tim Melville-Walker

A Deputy District Judge deals with almost all of the primary civil areas of law, including not only family law, but also other litigation such as trusts of land, contract disputes and accident work. Deputy District Judges sit part-time, so Tim will be combining being a Judge with his main work in the family department, working both from the Midhurst and Petersfield offices. The experience of being effectively on both sides of the Court process will be invaluable, as well as bringing his more than 20 years’ experience as a specialist family solicitor to the role of Deputy District Judge.

The process of becoming a Deputy District Judge is a long one, in this case taking over a year with exams, interviews and role plays. Tim is the first member of the firm to become a Deputy District Judge, but his appointment is just the latest achievement for the firm’s policy of encouraging and supporting firm members of all levels in their professional development. Many in the firm have achieved extra qualifications or taken on other roles whilst working for MacDonald Oates, and the partners are proud of the whole team.