During enforcement of family law property orders, a solicitor was referred to the South Australian Legal Profession Conduct Commissioner after helping his client arrange borrowings that breached court orders, well beyond the limit the court
Unfortunately, as a result of delays in finalising matters, there will often be circumstances where one party has remained in the family home since separation whilst the other party has paid rent elsewhere. This is
Child support can be a minefield for even the most seasoned of practitioners and whilst we are not often required to provide representation before the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART), clients will often seek assistance in
The Family Court of Western Australia dismissed a mother’s application to have parenting proceedings determined in a non-Convention country, finding the children remained habitually resident in Australia and that jurisdiction under the Family Law Act
By majority, the Court of Appeal of Western Australia held that provisions of the Surrogacy Act 2008 (WA) excluding same-sex couples from eligibility for a parentage order were inconsistent with the Sex Discrimination Act 1984
Parenting proceedings listed for a 7-day trial before Justice O’Brien in the Family Court of Western Australia. Between them, the parties sought to call evidence from 25 witnesses.
Emotional Toll and Vicarious Trauma: Family lawyers frequently deal with emotionally charged cases that can have a profound impact on their mental health. The exposure to intense emotions and traumatic experiences may lead to compassion
Burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. It can occur in any occupation, but it is most common in high-stress jobs, such as healthcare, law, and
In family law, words are not just information — they are tools that shape trust, influence decision-making, and either calm or escalate an already fragile situation. For clients in conflict, language has even greater power. It can anchor them, empower them, or overwhelm them.
In family law, pressure is constant.
Clients are distressed, deadlines are tight, evidence is incomplete, and conflict escalates with little warning.
Under these conditions, even seasoned practitioners can slip into what many call the Reactive Lawyer Trap — the cycle of responding, firefighting, and reacting to the loudest or most urgent problem of the day.
Every strong family law matter begins long before the first affidavit is drafted, the first subpoena is issued, or the first mention date arrives. It starts with strategy, but not strategy in the abstract, theoretical sense. Effective family law strategy is structured, evidence-driven, child-focused, and grounded in a clear understanding of risk, resources, and outcomes.
