How purpose‑driven innovation is reshaping family law
Purpose‑driven innovation is rapidly reshaping family law, and few practitioners have been as influential in this shift as Alan Larkin, Director and Head of Innovation & Technology at Family Law Partners. A family solicitor for nearly 30 years, Larkin has built award‑winning digital tools, partnered with universities to advance AI in family law, and helped more than 18,000 people access early legal guidance through Nova Engage.
In this Q&A, he shares why the most impactful tech for SME firms starts with human experience and how a clear sense of purpose can drive meaningful, client‑centred change.
Family Law Partners is known for developing technology driven by real client needs. How can SME firms ensure their tech strategy remains grounded in human experience rather than chasing new features or trends?
“SME firms can keep their tech strategies truly client‑centred by starting with lived experience rather than shiny features. The most valuable innovations come from our observation of where our clients feel confusion, friction or emotional strain, and designing applications that directly improve those moments. Get client feedback to validate the innovation, test and refine quickly, and you won’t go wrong.”
Photo: Alan Larkin
You’ve spoken previously about “purpose‑driven innovation.” What does this look like for an SME firm, and how can it inform better decisions around technology adoption and practice design?
“Purpose‑driven innovation means being clear about the problem we are trying to solve before choosing or creating the technology. For SMEs, a common purpose might be freeing up lawyers to do more profitable work. Nothing wrong with that but where is the higher ambition, the passion that drives the purpose through to delivery? Example: embarking on a tech journey with the purpose of making it easier for our clients to access our services. This makes commercial sense but also leans into an access-to-justice vibe in the consumer law sector. Identifying a ‘higher purpose’ can unite a team around adoption and deliver the change being sought.”
Alan Larkin will be speaking at Legal Geek Growth, our conference for small‑ and medium‑sized law firms, on 11 June in London.
