ONE of the UK’s best-known divorce lawyers, Marilyn Stowe, of Harrogate, has been praised for her speech to the Oxford Union.

Marilyn, who has advised the producers of Coronation Street and The Archers on family law, is founder and senior partner at Stowe Family Law in Harrogate. She achieved prominence after uncovering previously undisclosed medical evidence that secured the freedom of Sally Clark, the Cheshire mother wrongly jailed for life for the murders of her two infant sons.

She was invited by the Oxford Union Society to debate before the house, speaking in favour of the motion: “This house believes that marriage is an outdated institution”.

James Langman, the President of the Oxford Union, said: “We invited Marilyn to speak as she is renowned for being very outspoken on family law and family life. We felt that her high media profile as a well-known family lawyer, together with her position as chief examiner of the Law Society, would give great credibility to the debate.

“Marilyn’s speech was very well received and rounded the proposition argument off admirably. She really did a brilliant job.”

The debate which coincided with National Marriage Week, lasted for two hours.