Although strictly speaking it is not a ‘costs jurisdiction’ Costs Orders are often made where the circumstances warrant doing so, such as where a party’s conduct has lengthened proceedings or a party has continued to
Adoption proceedings are not common. Blended families are very much the ‘norm’ and have been for many years but there can sometimes be compelling reasons for seeking an Order for adoption. However, even where one
Unfortunately, the penchant for appeals is not solely confined to self-represented litigants. Practitioners should not expend costs opposing technical filing arguments where the substantive impact on their client is negligible.
Practitioners and parties must carefully adhere to court-imposed filing deadlines and directions.
The appeal pathway from the FWCA is complex, and depends on the decision maker, the legislation, and whether the order is interlocutory
A conviction for breach of an interim family violence restraining order will constitute “an offence involving violence, or a threat of violence, to the other party” for the purpose of the mandatory cross examination ban
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
Family law mediations are often described as “essential” or “best practice”, but that can oversimplify a complex reality. Mediation can be transformative – or deeply unsafe and unproductive – depending on the timing, the screening, the practitioners involved, and the parties’ capacity to participate. Although many of you will gasp when you read the above statement, we can all agree that there are clear cases where Mediation should not occur under any circumstances.
Access to justice remains a significant challenge for regional and remote Australians. This article examines how distance, cost, workforce shortages and limited services create barriers to legal help, who is most at risk, and how the Future of Regional Legal Services project is gathering real experiences through the National Access to Justice Survey and Regional Voices Project.
In family law, the quality of your relationship with counsel can materially shift outcomes for clients. A well-chosen, well-briefed barrister isn’t just an advocate in court, they are a strategic partner in risk assessment, settlement, and case theory.
