ProfilePicture - Tom Swain

Tom Swain

Family Barrister
  • Year of Call
  • 2023

Overview

Tom joined Walnut House as a probationary tenant after completing his pupillage at St John’s Chambers, where he built a strong foundation in private and public family law. He regularly appears in the Family Court across the Western Circuit and developed particular experience in cases involving allegations of domestic abuse and parental conflict.

Before coming to the Bar, Tom was an Associate Lecturer at the University of the West of England (UWE) Bristol, teaching medical law, tort law and criminal evidence. He previously worked within the court system as a Crown Court Clerk and Usher, supporting judges and providing pre-trial visits to vulnerable witnesses.

After completing his Graduate Diploma in Law, Tom worked as a Legal Assistant for a local authority’s child care team. He also volunteered with IPSEA as a Tribunal Support Caseworker, assisting families and young people with SEND appeals.

Outside of work, Tom enjoys weightlifting, racket sports, and coastal walks with his dogs. Owing to his family’s history in the Royal Navy, he also has a keen interest in military aviation.

Family Law

Private Law

Tom represents parents and Rule 16.4 Guardians in applications for Child Arrangements, Specific Issue and Prohibited Steps Orders. He has experience at all stages of proceedings, from FHDRAs to Final Hearings, and has been instructed to appear in multi-day Fact-Finding Hearings involving allegations of domestic violence, physical and sexual abuse, parental alienation, and substance misuse.

Drawing on his background in the Crown Court and local authority work, Tom often acts in private law cases which overlap with criminal and / or care proceedings. He is also experienced in representing clients suffering from mental health difficulties or other vulnerabilities, as well as international clients based outside the jurisdiction.

Public Law

Tom has acted on behalf of local authorities and parents in ICO/ISO application hearings, FCMHs, IRHs and Final Hearings. He prides himself on his personable and down to earth approach when representing parents facing care proceedings.

Tom has also appeared in the High Court in Deprivation of Liberty proceedings where an eventual transfer to the Court of Protection was sought. Given his teaching background in medical law, he has a growing interest in this area.

Domestic Violence

Tom regularly represents applicants and respondents in Non-Molestation Order and Occupation Order applications under the Family Law Act 1996.

Biographical and Other Information

  • Scholarships
  • Certificate of Honour. Awarded for achieving over 80% overall on the Bar Course (Middle Temple, 2024) • Queen Mother Major Scholarship. Awarded to 18 “outstanding candidates” for the Bar based on intellect, advocacy potential and character (Middle Temple, 2022) • Winner, St John’s Chambers Mooting Competition (UWE Bristol, 2022) • Winner, University of Plymouth Law Society Mooting Competition (UPLS, 2021) • Exeter Award (University of Exeter, 2020) • Dean’s Award (University of Law, 2020)
  • Academic
  • University of West of England (Bristol), Bar Practice Course & LLM (Outstanding, including 90% in Family Law and joint-highest mark in the year for Civil Advocacy) • University of Law (Exeter), Graduate Diploma in Law (Distinction) • University of Plymouth, Bachelor of Arts in English (First Class)

Family Law team members